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Mo Tounkara and Christian Manaytay stand as steady anchors, while Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao deliver in the clutch as UST bounces back at undermanned NU’s expense
MANILA, Philippines – A new era is indeed here for UST men’s basketball after eking out a thrilling 67-64 escape of all-Filipino NU in the continuation of UAAP Season 87 at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, September 21.
With their third win in the bag for a 3-1 record, the Growling Tigers have quickly eclipsed their dismal Season 86 slate of 2-12 in just four games, largely thanks to a 13-3 fourth-quarter run capped by a booming Nic Cabañero three that turned a 51-58 deficit to a 64-61 edge with 1:56 to play.
Although NU forward Ian Manansala caught a lucky break with a tying bank three, 64-all, to beat the shot clock at the 1:31 mark, Forthsky Padrigao calmly responded right back with a mid-range swish for the 66-64 UST lead with 29 ticks left.
Rising Bulldogs star Jake Figueroa had two chances to tie the game deep in the paint, but his hook shot and subsequent putback both rimmed out in favor of UST, which got one more free throw from Padrigao to set the final score.
Mo Tounkara anchored the win with a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double, followed by a 14-point effort from Christian Manaytay. Cabañero scored 10 on 4-of-8 shooting with 5 boards and 2 assists, while Padrigao added 8 points, 5 dimes, and 3 rebounds with a stellar +15 plus-minus in the tight affair.
“Against NU, the boys became aggressive and the will to win was there. A win is a win for us,” UST head coach Pido Jarencio said in Filipino.
“This is a total team effort, everyone helped out. Forthsky made his shots, breaks of the game. Christian was steady. I hope we sustain this until next game against La Salle which we all know is a super strong team.”
Steve Nash Enriquez saw his season-best outing of 17 points on 4-of-8 threes go to waste as NU fell to a 1-3 slate, continuing a complicated stretch without foreign student-athlete Mo Diassana.
Figueroa chipped in 11 points and 9 boards on a 5-of-8 clip and 5-of-7 from two, his lone misses inside coming at the very end.
The Scores
UST 67 – Tounkara 15, Manaytay 14, Cabañero 10, Padrigao 8, Acido 5, Crisostomo 5, Paranada 4, Estacio 3, Pangilinan 3, Llemit 0, Robinson 0.
NU 64 – Enriquez 17, Figueroa 11, Lim 8, Padrones 6, Manansala 6, Perciano 6, Jumamoy 5, Garcia 3, Palacielo 2, Yu 0, Santiago 0, Francisco 0, Dela Cruz 0.
Quarters: 16-16, 34-32, 48-52, 67-64.
– Rappler.com
