The University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers experienced their first win in the UAAP season 80 as they defeated the University of the East Red Warriors in their last game of the season, 88-85 today at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Tigers immediately fired up and tried to outrun the Warriors in the first quarter as they ended it with a score of 23-15.
During the second quarter, the Recto-based squad tried to even the gap and finish the first half in favor of them, unfortunately they were 4-point short, 43-39.
As the third quarter commenced, the Red shirts was almost owned the period but the Espana-based troop could not let this game slide because they know that it’s going to be the day they are going home as winners, ending the quarter 63-61.
Coach Boy Sablan said that it was a struggle for him running the team especially that they are in their rebuilding process but assured that his boys are going to be season 81 ready.
“Eto yung part ng rebuilding process namin. Transition from two coaches na dumaan which may pinanggalingang hindi maganda, alam naman natin yan so, kailangang mabago yun. Hindi naman kailangang basketball agad. Yung pinagdaanan ng mga batang ito dapat maisaayos dapat muna natin.”
The guys in Yellow felt like it was a championship game for them today and they are grateful to the UST community of their non-stop support and though UST almost ended up on the wrong side of the history, they are still thankful for what happen to them this season that helped them grow as a team.
“Syempre para sa akin, masarap sa feeling na nanalo. Sabi nga, parang nagchampion na kami pagdating dun. So, yung mga nangyari samin, maging aral, inspiration namin pagdating next season,” Marvin Lee stated.
Bannering UST Growling Tigers were Regie Basibas, Steve Akomo and Eric Caunan with 21, 18 and 14 points, respectively.
While Alvin Pasaol, Jason Varilla and Mark Maloles contributed 18, 16 and 15 points for the Red Warriors, respectively.
Box Score:
UST-88
Basibas-21, Akomo-18, Caunan-14, Lee-11, Garcia-10, De Guzman-6, Sta Ana-4, Escalambre-2, Macasaet-2, Romero-0, Huang-0, Faundo-0
UE-85
Pasaol-18, Varilla-16, Maloles-15, Conner-10, Acuno-8, Cullar-7, Manalang-7, Bartolome-2, Olayon-2, Derige-0
