POACHING target Rhenz Abando returned to the lineup, helping the Growling Tigers romp to an 88-76 victory and eliminate the lowly National University Bulldogs from UAAP semis contention at the Ynares Center in Antipolo Saturday.
It was a statement game for the Tigers, who were rocked by underhanded efforts by at least two UAAP rival teams to recruit the high-flying rookie in the middle of the season.
Abando, who contributed 9 points in 16 minutes off the bench against the Bulldogs, earlier committed to stick with the Tigers, who improved to a 7-5 record and remained at third place.
MVP frontrunner Soulemane Chabi-Yo led UST with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Team captain CJ Cansino continued his resurgence from last season’s injury, scoring a season-high 15 points.
Renzo Subido added 14 markers, including three triples in the final quarter where UST’s lead ballooned to 20 points.
The Tigers hit a total of 12 3-pointers and outrebounded NU, 58-30.
UST finished the first half with a 12-2 run led by Cansino and Mark Nonoy, to build a 38-30 lead by halftime.
The Bulldogs fell to a 23-point hole early in the third but Dave Ildefonso almost single-handedly trimmed the UST lead to just nine entering the payoff period.
Ildefonso tallied 27 points while his brother Shaun added 15 for NU.
Up next for the Tigers are the De La Salle University Green Archers on Oct. 23, Wednesday, 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum. R.B.R. Fuertes
