The University of Santo Tomas (UST) are up again in their roller-coaster season as the Growling Tigers walloped a struggling University of the East (UE), 3-1, in the UAAP men’s football nightcap Thursday at the University of the Philippines (UP) Football Stadium.

Seldom-used midfielder Roward Jintula came out of obscurity; starting, scoring, and assisting to lead his team to an outside chance of grabbing a final four slot.

Jintula showed his magic on the 25^th minute to level UE’s early 1-0 lead with a goal that caromed off the right goal post toward the back of the goal line.

It was Jintula’s maiden goal of the season in just his second start.

Fifteen minutes earlier, Jerome Abarca scored his first goal after his opening-game hat-trick with a header off a free kick from far left by center back Jerome Ang.

In the 35^th minute, defensive midfielder Richard Songalia scored on power strike from at least 20 yards off the top of the goal to break the deadlock.

The Red Warriors managed to have two chances on goal in the second half from strikes by Crimson Inguito and Eldrin Madrid only to be blocked by UST’s defense.

The Growling Tigers then iced the game in the 89^th minute, with an on-side and uncontested Andrew Ramos striking goal off a find by Jintula.

“Ang game na ito, ang nag-motivate sa amin ay kapag natalo kami ay out kami sa final four,” Jintula said after the game as UST (four wins, one draw, and five losses) gained 13 tournament points, with six more to grab before the end of the eliminations.

Still at sixth place, the Growling Tigers are sniffing just two points behind the Red Warriors, UP, and FEU.

“Ang motivation ng players namin is the standing, so now buhay pa kami sa top four,” said UST head coach Marjo Allado.

“Focus lang kami sa next game namin against Ateneo but for today’s game, sobrang laking bagay siya sa poinst namin kasi kanina 10 points lang kami. Plus three points today, 13, and then we have two more games. At least nakabawi kami kay UE,” he added.

It has been a downward spiral for the Red Warriors, dropping their third game in the second round after an undefeated first round run, while conceding 11 goals in their current back-to-back losing streak.