MANILA – University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers overcame a flat start to defeat the University of the East Red Warriors, 72-61, in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Veteran Arnold Dave Ando had his best game this season with career-high 16 points to go with 12 rebounds.
The Growling Tigers snapped its three-game slide for a 3-5 win-loss slate.
Sherwin Concepcion drilled five triples to finish with double-double 17 points and 11 rebounds, while rookie Nicael Cabañero contributed 11 markers for the Growling Tigers.
Down 11-21 after the first 10 minutes, the Growling Tigers slowly clawed its way back at 28-30 in the second period behind outside hits by Concepcion and Paul Manalang and inside baskets by Ando.
The Red Warriors created separation anew in the third canto at 44-37 on consecutive treys by Kyle Paranada. However, a triple by Royce Mantua and inside drives by Joshua Fontanilla gave UST a 54-51 edge.
The Growling Tigers continued its run in the fourth. It build a 60-51 edge.
The Red Warriors made its last push at 65-61 but a three-point play by Cabañero and a triple by Concepcion sealed the win for UST.
Paranada finished the match with 17 points, including five outside baskets. Kris Harvey Pagsanjan added 16 points and nine rebounds as the Red Warriors remained winless in eight games.
Meanwhile, Matthroven Erolon scored on a go-ahead three-pointer as the Adamson University (2-6) Falcons halted its five-game slide with a 64-63 escape over Far Eastern University Tamaraws (3-5).
Trailing 61-63 with 10 seconds left, Jerom Lastimosa received the ball at the top of the key, penetrated to the basket, and at the last second passed to Erolon, who drilled the go-ahead triple.
Off a timeout, the Tamaraws still has a chance to snatch the win but Emman Ojuola’s pass was deflected by Falcons’ center Cedrick Manzano as time expired.
Erolon finished the match with five points despite playing only for 12 seconds the entire game, while Lastimosa registered 17 points and eight rebounds for Adamson.
BOX SCORE:
UST 72 — Concepcion 17, Ando 16, Cabañero 11, Manalang 9, Fontanilla 7, Manaytay 6, Pangilinan 3, Mantua 3, Samudio 0, Herrera 0, Canoy 0, Gomez de Liano 0, Gesalem 0.
UE 61 — K. Paranada 17, Pagsanjan 16, Antiporda 6, Sawat 6, Je. Cruz 5, Beltran 4, Lorenzana 3, Escamis 2, N. Paranada 2, Tulabut 0, Catacutan 0, Villanueva 0, Ja. Cruz 0, Abatayo 0.
Quarterscores: 11-21, 28-30, 54-51, 72-61./PN
