THE UST Tiger Cubs crushed the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Fighting Maroons, 93-64, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 boys’ basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
UST, which suffered a double-digit loss against National University over the weekend, improved to a 7-4 win-loss record, while UPIS dropped to a 1-10 card to remain in last place.
The Tiger Cubs broke a 37-all deadlock at halftime and cruised to a 53-38 lead after a 16-1 start in the third quarter, with big men Koji Buenaflor and Sam Reyes combining for 14.
UST outscored UP in the second half, 56-27, achieving its biggest lead in the game at the buzzer.
“Minsan nakikipagshoot-out sila, hindi sila nag-stick sa game plan. No’ng halftime, ni-remind ko lang sila na kailangan mag-stick lang kami sa prinaktis namin,” UST head coach Manu Iñigo said postgame.
UST started the game with a 10-2 blitz, but a 16-4 UPIS run fueled by four triples propelled the Junior Fighting Maroons to a four-point lead after the first frame, 23-19.
The Junior Fighting Maroons mounted an 11-point lead in the second quarter, 32-21, but the Tiger Cubs retaliated with a 16-5 run to tie the game at 37-all at the half.
UST relied on its interior presence, scoring 52 points in the paint against UP’s 12.
The Tiger Cubs also dished out 25 assists, doubling the Junior Fighting Maroons’ 12 dimes.
UST shot 54.4 percent (27 out of 46) from the field, while the Junior Fighting Maroons shot a poor 31 percent (22 out of 71).
The Tiger Cubs’ defense held league topscorer Daryl Valdeavilla to 13 points on 4-of-23 shooting. Valdeavilla leads the league in scoring with 21.6 points per game.
Reyes paced the Tiger Cubs with 21 points and six rebounds, while Buenaflor and Andrei Dungo chipped in 17 points apiece.
Rocco Melicor led UPIS with 23 points and three rebounds, while Bruce Tubongbanua scored 17 markers.
The Tiger Cubs will next face the UE Junior Red Warriors at the same venue on Jan. 21, Sunday, at 3 p.m.
