UST ends 16-game loss streak to La Salle, stays good in UAAP Season 88

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Nic Cabañero and Collins Akowe ship for UST because the Tigers snap an nearly decade-long shedding skid to La Salle for a 2-0 begin in UAAP Season 88

MANILA, Philippines – For the primary time in nearly a decade, the UST Growling Tigers lastly prevailed over the La Salle Inexperienced Archers following a nail-biting 93-84 come-from-behind win within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball match on the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, September 27.

UST put an finish to a 16-game shedding skid to La Salle courting again to Season 78, the place the then Kevin Ferrer-led Growling Tigers defeated Jeron Teng and the Inexperienced Archers, 81-79, manner again on October 11, 2015.

Heroes have been aplenty for UST within the gutsy comeback win as 4 gamers scored in double figures, with graduating crew captain Nic Cabañero erupting for a game-high 27 factors on 11-of-20 capturing.

Rookie overseas student-athlete Collins Akowe — who dazzled in his debut for the Growling Tigers of their 87-67 beating of the UP Preventing Maroons within the opening weekend — got here alive late within the contest and racked up one other monster double-double of 20 factors and 19 rebounds after placing collectively 29 and 17 within the earlier sport.

Sophomore ahead Amiel Acido backstopped Cabañero and Akowe with 13 factors, whereas senior guard Forthsky Padrigao tallied 12 markers, 3 boards, 9 assists, and three steals in his season debut after serving a one-game suspension in opposition to the defending champion Preventing Maroons.

With the victory, UST acquired off to its first 2-0 begin since Season 82 in 2019, whereas La Salle dropped to a 1-1 slate.

“The hardest a part of the sport was once we have been down by [12], however you can see that final 12 months’s UST isn’t the identical as this 12 months’s crew,” mentioned UST assistant coach Peter Martin.

“We’re much more assured on this sport.”

With the Inexperienced Archers threatening to drag away with its greatest lead of the sport at 12 factors on the 4:44 mark of the third interval, 68-56, the Growling Tigers confirmed why they’re one of many early-season favorites, ending the quarter on a livid 16-6 blast to drag inside putting distance getting into the ultimate body, 72-74.

It was a back-and-forth battle between the 2 contenders early within the fourth, and with the rating tied at 79-all after a nook triple by La Salle’s Vhoris Marasigan, UST’s Kyle Paranada spearheaded an important 6-0 Growling Tigers rally to create some separation from the Inexperienced Archers with 4:03 remaining, 85-79.

A pull-up three-pointer by Doy Dungo on the 3:20 mark acquired the Inexperienced Archers again inside one possession, 82-85, earlier than Akowe took over with two large baskets late because the Growling Tigers completed the sport on an 8-2 run.

“My coaches and teammates [encouraged me at halftime]. Echo (Laure) mentioned the primary half is finished, we want you within the second half, we want you to be aggressive,” mentioned Akowe.

Jacob Cortez topscored for the Inexperienced Archers with 17 factors on 7-of-16 capturing, whereas Earl Abadam poured in 11 markers.

Marasigan, Mason Amos, and Kean Baclaan added 9 factors every, whereas do-it-all La Salle large man Mike Phillips had 8 factors, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists within the sorry loss.