University of the East (UE) emerged from its dry spell for the last four seasons as the season hosts outplayed the University of Santo Tomas (UST), 78-73, in the last day of the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball elimination round Tuesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

The Red Warriors, fighting in a do-or-die game for the playoff for the last Final Four slot, opened the third quarter with an 8-1 run to create a permanent lead against last season’s runners-up.

Dan Alberto — starting at point guard in place of star player Roi Sumang — and swingman Pedrito Galanza, scored 15 points in the third quarter as the full court press of UE stymied UST’s execution in the quarter.

Galanza and Alberto scored 17 and 15 points, respectively, while Paul Varilla scored nine of his eight points in the fourth quarter to neutralize the Growling Tigers’ retaliations.

“We came out with a lot of intensity and a lot of energy in the second half… The boys promised to win the last four remaining games [of the elimination] and they made their promise,” said UE head coach Derrick Pumaren on the streaking Warriors.

Pumaren added that UE, which finished their season at 9-5, “will go back to drawing board” in preparation of their playoff against National University (NU).

“Let’s put it this way, we will try stay alive. We just got to do it and come out against NU, no ifs and buts,” he said.

On the other hand, UST finished their forgettable season 77 with a 5-9 card.

The Growling Tigers, eliminated for the first time since 2010, were led by Aljon Mariano with 18 points and Eduardo Daquiaog with 16 points.

Box scores:
UE 78 – Galanza 17, Alberto 15, Sumang 10, Varilla 9, Javier 8, Mammie 7, Palma 4, Arafat 3, Olayon 2, Guiang 2, Jumao-as 1
UST 73 – Mariano 18, Daquiaog 16, Abdul 13, Pe 9, Lo 7, Sheriff 6, Vigil 4, Subido 0, Gayosa 0, Lao 0, Faundo 0, Basibas 0

Quartrer scores: 15-17, 36-35, 60-50, 78-73