The UST Growling Tigers banish the Ateneo ghost for the first time since UAAP Season 78.
The UST Growling Tigers ended a 9-year drought against the Ateneo as they drubbed the Blue Eagles, 74-64, in their first round encounter in UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, September 11.
A new-look Tigers squad used a 18-4 finishing kick in the fourth quarter to overturn a first half deficit against the Blue Eagles, giving the España-based cagers their first win over their Katipunan counterparts since UAAP Season 78.
Despite trailing at the halftime break, 37-41, the Growling Tigers aced their acid test with flying colors as they unleashed a scorching 16-0 run to gain full control of the game in the fourth quarter.
Ateneo looked poised to hold its ground against the Tigers, leading 60-56 after a Josh Lazaro bucket.
But Mo Tounkara sparked the scoring run to jumpstart UST’s fightback, turning their deficit to a 72-60 lead with a Nic Cabañero bank shot with two minutes remaining in the game.
At that point, it was insurmountable for the Blue Eagles who suffered their first defeat against UST under coach Tab Baldwin.
Gelo Crisostomo emerged as the breakout star for head coach Pido Jarencio as he finished with a career-high double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Jarencio credited his players for being able to eke out the gutsy win over a Final Four team from a season prior.
“It’s all about the players. Sa akin, guidance lang kami sa players. Sila yung nagpanalo ng game. It’s a total team effort coming from the coaches, nakita niyo naman yung mga coaches namin, actually we started slow. Nung first half, sama nung takbo, mabibigat yung mga paa.” said Jarencio.
“[But] naka-focus tong team namin. Well prepared kami every game. Yun lang, breaks of the game din. Nakuha namin yung momentum especially nung fourth quarter, nagtuloy-tuloy.” he added.
Apart from Crisostomo, Tounkara also came up big for the Growling Tigers for the second straight game. He had 16 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
Forthsky Padrigao had six points, nine assists, and three rebounds for UST in his first game against his former team.
Excitement continues to build for the Growling Tigers. They will shoot for a 3-0 start when they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday, September 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.