THE UST Growling Tigers struggled offensively in their UAAP Season 86 opener, resulting in an 80-70 loss against the host team UE Red Warriors at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
The Tigers shot a poor 33.9-percent from the field, including 17.4-percent from deep. They never led in the game.
UST went on a late surge with rookie Mark Llemit converting an and-one layup that pulled the Tigers within eight points with 2:03 left, but a crucial Echo Laure turnover led to a Jack Cruz-Dumont dagger triple that increased the UE lead to 11, 78-67.
UST’S comeback attempt was further hampered as Nic Cabañero fouled out with a minute remaining.
Migs Pangilinan drilled a triple for the Tigers, but they came too late, and Cruz-Dumont sealed the Red Warriors’ win with two charities, 80-70.
“Bad start kami ‘eh, we’re not making our shots, we’re not playing defense,” UST head coach Pido Jarencio said postgame. “No’ng third and fourth quarters, gumanda naman depensa namin, nalimit naman sila… Ang problema, we’re not making our shots.”
UST was down by as much as 13 points early, but the Tigers pulled off a 12-0 run to cut the deficit to one after the first quarter, 22-21.
The Tigers tied the game at 22-all, but the Red Warriors pulled away with a 24-13 spurt capped by a crafty reverse layup by Remogat to end the first half, 46-34.
An 18-14 third quarter for UE allowed the Red Warriors to bury UST.
Cabañero paced UST with 18 points. He struggled from the field, converting only six of his 20 attempts, and went 6-of-13 from the charity stripe.
Manaytay chalked up 15 points and eight rebounds for UST.
Remogat delivered a game-high 21 points and 10 assists for the Red Warriors.
UE big Precious Momowei took advantage of UST’s lackluster paint defense and finished with 17 markers and 15 rebounds.
UST’s Adama Faye sat out for the majority of the game due to a back injury that he sustained three weeks ago. He only scored one point in eight minutes of playing time.
“Akala namin okay na siya, and then, pinilit kong gamitin. Sabi niya he’s good, pero iyon pala talagang masakit pa rin,” Jarencio said.
The UST Growling Tigers will next face the Adamson Soaring Falcons at the same venue on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m. Ernest Martin G. Tuazon
