University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers fended off a huge Tamaraw scare in the dying minutes of the game, 72-71 to cap off a day of upsets in season 78 of the UAAP at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

In the teams’ first outing in UAAP Season 78, the Growling Tigers escaped with a precarious one-point victory over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, the team highly considered as the season’s yardstick for UAAP squads.

“The boys played very well today. Yung heart nandoon. They wanted to win. So ayun ang nangyari kanina.” UST sophomore coach Bong dela Cruz said after his team registered its second straight victory in the opening week of the UAAP.

IN PHOTOS: UST Growling Tigers escape with slim 1-point victory over FEU Tamaraws

The triumvirate of Ed Daquioag, Kevin Ferrer and resident import Kareem Abdul led the Growling Tigers to a 2-0 card, enough to secure a share at the top spot in the UAAP standings with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, which earlier pulled off a huge upset against heavily-favored Season 76 champs, the De La Salle Green Archers.

Daquioag rose up to the challenge in the dying minutes of game. “Nachallenge lang ako sa sinabi ni Coach (Nash Racela) doon sa dugout namin kanina. Yung kailangan ng mental toughness so which is, pinatunayan ko sa kanyang mayroon ako noon.” Daquioag who led UST with his 18 points on a 60 percent shooting from the field.

Mac Belo scored a team-high 17 points in a losing effort for the Tamaraws.

The Growling Tigers will next face the rolling Fighting Maroons in a showdown of teams with unblemished cards on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

IN PHOTOS: UST Growling Tigers escape with slim 1-point victory over FEU Tamaraws

THE SCORES:

UST- Daquioag 18, Ferrer 13, Abdul 12, Bonleon 9, Sheriff 7, Vigil 6, Lao 4, Lee 3, Huang 0, Faundo 0

FEU- Belo 17, Pogoy 13, Jose 12, Escoto 9, Tolomia 8, Dennison 5, Arong 4, Inigo 3, Orizu 0, Escoto 0, Trinidad 0, Tamsi 0