The UST Growling Tigers are now winners of back-to-back games and are firmly in the thick of the Final Four in UAAP Season 88.
The UST Growling Tigers have cemented their place back into the Final Four race after taking down the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 67-59, in their second round encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
After needing three overtimes in their first round matchup, the Tigers only needed the four quarters in regulation to improve to 7-5 and keep their place in the top four of the standings with the final stretch of elimination looming.
Even as Ateneo kept themselves within striking distance in the match, back-to-back triples from Forthsky Padrigao helped the Growling Tigers regain some form of control, 59-49, with 7:13 ticks left in the ball game.
This helped UST keep themselves ahead, even as Kymani Ladi tried to will the Blue Eagles back into it with his consistent scoring.
Ladi scored on the fast break to cut UST’s advantage to six, 55-61, with 3:21 left.
But a crucial basket from Nic Cabañero helped stop the bleeding before Gelo Crisostomo completed a defensive stop against Ateneo on the other end to keep the Blue Eagles at bay and charge to their second straight victory.
Ateneo, meanwhile, will be fighting for their Final Four lives after falling to 5-6.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.