THE UST Growling Tigers missed the UAAP Final Four for the third-straight year, finishing the tournament at sixth place with a 5-9 win-loss record.
The new-look Tigers, under head coach Aldin Ayo, capped their UAAP Season 81 campaign in poor fashion after absorbing a 40-point beating from defending champion Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 62-102, at the Mall of Asia Arena last Nov. 14.
“We had a good season pa rin naman kasi dito nasubok ‘yong chemistry namin ng team and alam namin sa sarili naming nag-compete kami,” Tigers team captain Marvin Lee told the Varsitarian.
The Blue Eagles took control early with a 28-5 run.
William Navarro’s three-point play midway through the third frame gave Ateneo its biggest lead at 44, 81-37.
The Eagles made 21 assists while the Tigers only had six.
Ateneo also took advantage of UST’s 25 turnovers, scoring 30 easy points.
Angelo Kouame chalked up 22 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks while Navarro chipped in 17 markers on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting clip for the Eagles.
Subido had 18 points for the Tigers while Tobi Agustin and Joshua Marcos added 15 and 13 markers, respectively.
Embons Bonleon went scoreless in his final game for UST.
Four-game slide
The Tigers were still in the running for a Final Four berth midway through the season with a 5-5 card, but a four-game skid late in the tournament proved pivotal in their campaign.
After the Ti mgers’ 79-68 win against the University of the East last Oct. 28, they have lost the next four against the De La Salle University, Adamson University, University of the Philippines (UP) and Ateneo, respectively.
The loss to Adamson reduced the Tigers’ chances to a playoff for the fourth spot at most.
One of the Tigers’ primary troubles this season was taking care of the basketball. They averaged a league-worst 17.1 turnovers per game.
UST also ranked dead last in assists and steals with just 12.9 and 3.4 per game, respectively.
The Tigers were also cellar dwellers in field goal percentage, hitting just 34.7 percent of their shot attempts.
The lack of big men took a heavy toll on the UST’s performance this year as it hit rock bottom in paint points, registering only 22.3 points per game (ppg).
“Minsan ang big man na namin ay si Joshua Marcos, 5’11” lang ‘yon, although nagagawa pa rin naman niya ‘yong rules namin sa defense but kulang pa rin talaga,” Ayo said.
Cameroonian center Steve Akomo only played in the Tigers’ first four outings after suffering a head injury while rookie sensation CJ Cansino, who averaged 12.8 ppg and 10.3 rebounds per game, went down with an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during UST’s penultimate game of the season against UP last Nov. 10.
But despite the early exit, the multi-titled coach lauded his wards.
“It was a good season for the team in our first year. Madami kaming na-gain dito and good experience ito for the rookies,” Ayo said.
He added that the team will already begin preparations for Season 82 in December to furnish mishaps on the court.
“’Yon kasi ang hindi namin nagawa nitong season, ang makapag-ensayo nang matagal at kumpleto kaya we’re going to start early ngayon,” he said.
The tactician also said former La Salle guard Brent Paraiso and former Mapua University forward Sherwin Conception are expected to suit up for the Tigers next year.
Tiger Cub Mark Nonoy is also expected to bolster UST’s roster next season.
