MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers bundled National University Bulldogs out of playoffs contention with an 88-76 beating in the UAAP Season 82 men’s seniors basketball on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Soulemane Chabi Yo tallied double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds. Crispin John Cansino added season-best 15 markers, while Henri Lorenzo Subido and Negrense Mark Nonoy added 14 and 12 markers, respectively.
The Tigers moved up to 7-5.
Rhenz Abando, playing against the team that allegedly tried to poach him out of the Tigers camp, made his return to the UST lineup with nine points and five rebounds in 16 minutes.
Trailing 17-18 after the first 10 minutes, the Growling Tigers created distance from the Bulldogs in the second period on baskets from Chabi Yo, Cansino and Nonoy as the lead grew to 38-30 at the half.
Abando and Nonoy carried the offense for the Growling Tigers at the onset of the third quarter. The lead reached its largest at 58-35. The Bulldogs, however, answered with consecutive three balls to cut the deficit to 65-56.
The Growling Tigers restored order in the fourth quarter with inside baskets from Cansino and Chabi Yo and consecutive outside shots from Subido to bring the lead up to 86-66.
Dave Ildefonso top-scored with 27 points, while Shaun Ildefonso and John Lloyd Clemente added 15 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Bulldogs remained at deadlast with 2-9 slate./PN
