WITH A sluggish first half where they had more turnovers than made field goals, the UST Growling Tigers dropped their UAAP Season 84 opener in a 76-51 blowout against the Far Eastern University at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
The Tigers outscored FEU in the second half, 33-29, but weren’t able to overcome the deficit they sustained in the first two quarters, in which they scored only 18 points.
Gilas Pilipinas cadet RJ Abarrientos led FEU with 18 points (14 in the first half) and five rebounds.
UST’sJoshua Fontanilla scored a game-high 19 markers on 50-percent shooting (8/16 FGs). Rookie forward Nicael Cabañero contributed 12 points.
Team veterans Sherwin Concepcion and Dave Ando combined for nine points. Concepcion went three-for-nine on the field, while Ando went one-for-eight.
UST attempted 34 three-pointers and only hit eight.
The Tamaraws also outrebounded the Tigers, 57-40.
FEU’s offense was hot throughout the game, shooting 43.28 percent from the field (29-for-67).
The Tigers will face the team of its former team captain CJ Cansino, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, on Tuesday, 7 p.m. at the same venue. Mark Ernest V. Villeza
