THE UST Growling Tigers remained the worst team in the league after faltering anew against the UE Red Warriors, 86-73, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
Eleven first quarter points by Abdul Sawat powered the Red Warriors’ scoring barrage that gave them a lead as big as 14 points.
Trailing by 10 after the opening canto, 29-19, the Tigers went on a 15-7 blitz ignited by three Miguel Pangilinan triples that cut UE’s lead to two.
However, the Red Warriors outscored UST by seven the rest of the half for a nine-point halftime lead, 55-46.
The Red Warriors exploded with a 10-0 spurt after seven straight points by Precious Momowei to give UE a comfortable 65-46 lead with 3:02 remaining in the third frame.
UST scored only seven points in the third quarter.
Pangilinan led UST with 17 points in the first half, but he was limited to just three points in the remainder of the game.
Pangilinan tallied 20 points including six three-pointers but on an inefficient 6-of-19 shooting. Nic Cabañero had 18 points on 6-of-18 shooting.
Momowei paced the Red Warriors with a double-double of 17 points and 18 rebounds. He also had five assists, two blocks, and a steal.
Sawat had 17 points and five assists for UE.
UST dropped to league-worst 1-8 win-loss record, while UE improved to a 3-6 slate.
The UST Growling Tigers will go on a weeklong break and will next face the Adamson Soaring Falcons at the same venue on Nov. 4, Saturday, at 2 p.m.
