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| Forthsky Padrigao won it for UST with this jumper. Dennis Acosta |
QUEZON CITY--Forthsky Padrigao drained the go-ahead basket as the University of Santo Tomas returned to its winning ways, escaping National University, 67-64, in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
The Growling Tigers worked around a 53-60 hole midway through the payoff period as Nic Cabañero, Forthsky Padriago, and Mo Tounkara joined hands for the clutch ending.
It was Cabañero who started the ball rolling for UST with a bucket before the Malian big man followed suit with four straight points. Then Padrigao drove in for a deuce that gave his side the lead, 61-60.
After a split by Steve Nash Enriquez from the line, Cabañero nailed a huge three for a 64-61 lead but it was answered right away by Jolo Manansala on an off-the-bank three to tie the match at 64 with 1:31 to go.
Then Padrigao’s time arrived.
He got the man he wanted after a switch, seeing the 6-foot-5 Kenshin Padrones in front of him.
He danced, then stepped back and left his defender out of the picture before calmly sinking a long two for the 66-64 advantage with 29.0 seconds left.
Jake Figueroa got two chances in the paint in the next play but he both flunked those shots as Padrigao split his freebies to seal the deal and give UST the solo third spot at 3-1.
“Against NU naging aggressive ‘yung mga bata, the will to win nandoon. Basta kami a win is a win two points, three points, one point. This is a total team effort lahat nagtulungan,” said Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio.
Big men took the spotlight for UST with Tounkara finishing with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds and Christian Manaytay adding 14 points and five rebounds.
Cabañero also got 10 points and five rebounds for the Growling Tigers.
“Nagkataon lang din talaga siguro kasi few possessions back, talagang nagki-create ako para sa teammates ko and then come ‘yung last possession na ‘yun, bigla sila nag-switch so ginawa ko lang ‘yung right thing and thank you Lord pumasok ‘yung tira ko,” said Padrigao, who had eight points, five assists, and three rebounds.
UST will have a lengthy rest before returning to court on Sept. 29 against the defending champion De La Salle University, still at the Big Dome.
"The will to win, nandoon," said Jarencio.
"This is a total team effort. I hope we sustain this."
Enriquez led the way for the struggling Bulldogs, who sank to 1-3 at sixth, with 17 points, five assists, and three rebounds.
Figueroa chipped in 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting but his last two misses really hurt. He also grabbed nine rebounds.
NU will look to get out of its funk on Wednesday against Adamson University, also at the Big Dome.
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.
Quarterscores: 16-16, 32-34, 48-52, 67-64.
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