The UST Growling Tigers on Saturday dropped a must-win game against the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 80-69, at the Mall of Asia Arena, dimming their chances of making it to the Final Four.
The game was close at the end of the first half with UST trailing by one, but the Tigers squandered a 25-12 third quarter to the surging Falcons and never recovered.
The Falcons took advantage of the Tigers’ offensive struggles in the fourth quarter to build a 23-point lead, 77-54. UST’s first field goal in the payoff period came at the 3:32 mark.
The Tigers’ defense solidified late, propelling a 15-3 run, but the Falcon lead was too much to overcome.
UST’s Joshua Fontanilla scored a career-high 23 points. Nic Cabañero and team captain Paul Manalang contributed 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
Adamson star guard Jerom Lastimosa also notched a career-high 24 points after going 8-for-9 from the field.
The Tigers fell to 3-8, while the Falcons improved to 5-6 for solo fourth place.
The Tigers have lost their last three games by a combined 90 points.
UST will next face the National University Bulldogs on Tuesday, 7 p.m., at the same venue.
