Adamson unleashed an offensive house of chaos but the partnership of veterans Kevin Ferrer and Ed Daquioag was too much as the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers debuted in winning fashion, 70-64, in the opening doubleheader of the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Daquioag scored a career high 28 points and Ferrer added 24 points, playing yeomen roles for the Tigers’ cause.
“I did not expect my game. I just gave my best,” Daquioag commented on his best game.
UST started the game on fire, surging ahead, 22-5, in a seeming walk in the park. Ferrer was most productive in that quarter with 12 points.
The Falcons, cellar dweller of Season 77, unleashed hell in the second quarter by playing a hellish running game with driving layups from Jerome Garcia and Arvin Margallo, who combined for 11 points in the quarter.
IN PHOTOS: Daquioag leads Growling Tigers to down Falcons
Aside from offense, Adamson also did much damage against UST on defense, allowing them six second quarter points.
Daquioag and Ferrer then went to work in the third quarter as he fought toe to toe against the Falcons’ feisty backcourt, scoring eighteen points off dribble penetrations.
Despite their stellar play, the Falcon trio of Joseph Nalos, Dawn Ochea, and Nico Capote traded baskets with their Thomasian counterparts as the former the latter’s 40-49 to 45-51 at the end of the period.
The fourth period was a showdown between Daquioag and Nalos as both cagers displayed playground basketball skills, scoring off dribble drives.
Nalos scored four points in a span of twenty seconds in the last minute of the game as Adamson came within a basket, 63-65.
Daquioag though saved the day for UST, converting a hangtime floater for 67-63 lead. Vigil then capped off the win with three free throws.
Despite the win, UST’s new team manager Alvin Patrimonio said that “there is still much more to improve” for the Tigers.
“Our second team has to help Kevin and Ed. We can’t just rely on both of them,” he said.
Only five players scored for UST in the game while Adamson, led by Nalos with 18 points and Ochea with 12, had ten scoring players in the game.
