THE UST Tiger Cubs survived multiple comeback attempts by the University of the Philippines Integrated School to tally their first win in the UAAP Season 86 boys’ basketball tournament, 90-84, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
Daryl Valdeavilla scored 11 points in UPIS’ pivotal 13-4 fourth quarter run, capped by his third triple of the frame, to give his team a two-point lead, 78-76.
UST stormed back with an 8-0 run propelled by six points from Koji Buenaflor, 84-78.
UPIS mainstay Rocco Melicor scored four straight points to trim the Tiger Cubs’ lead to two, 84-82, but Sam Reyes made an inside hit and Lanze Ronquillo sank the dagger triple to give UST a seven-point lead with 40.4 seconds left, 89-82.
“Hats off din kami sa UPIS, talagang kahit anong run namin, lagi silang sumasagot… Happy din ako sa players namin, na kahit bumabalik yung UPIS, yung tapang nila nandoon pa rin, tapos yung communication nila naddevelop lalo sa mga ganyang games,” UST head coach Manu Inigo said postgame.
The Tiger Cubs utilized an 8-3 run in the opening period to take an early nine-point advantage, 32-23.
UPIS started off the second quarter strong, mounting an 11-3 blast to cut UST’s lead to two at the half, 42-40, behind a seven-point spurt from Bruce Tubongbanua.
After building an 11-point lead in the third quarter, 70-59, Melicor banded with Valdeavilla for a 6-2 blast to trim the Tiger Cubs’ lead to seven heading to the payoff period, 72-65.
The Tiger Cubs’ size advantage was evident in their first win, tallying 70 rebounds (28 offensive) compared to UPIS’ 42 boards (eight offensive). UST also tallied 44 points inside the paint, a far cry from UPIS’ 18 markers.
Andrei Dungo paced UST with 19 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Buenaflor tallied a double-double of 19 points and 16 rebounds.
Valdeavilla scored 26 points in UPIS’ second straight loss, while Melicor notched 23 points and seven rebounds.
The Tiger Cubs look to maintain their winning ways as they clash against the defending champions FEU Baby Tamaraws at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Dec. 3, Sunday, at 8 a.m.
