THE UST Tiger Cubs will head into the UAAP Season 86 boys’ basketball tournament semifinals as the fourth seed after an 84-78 loss against the FEU Diliman Baby Tamaraws in their elimination-round capper at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Sunday, Jan. 28.
UST ended the round in fourth place with an 8-6 win-loss record, while FEU, which ended the eliminations on a four-game winning streak, ended up with the third seed with a 9-5 tally.
The top-seeded Adamson University Baby Falcons (12-1) and second-place Nazareth School of National University Bullpups (11-2) will clash later on Sunday to determine the first seed after the eliminations.
The winner between the two teams, who are assured of twice-to-beat advantages, will be UST’s Final Four foe.
After a three-pointer by Jheremy Godoy that put UST down a 23-point hole, 70-47, JB Lim scored five of the last nine Tiger Cubs’ points to cut the deficit to 14 after the third frame, 70-56.
With UST down by 17 with less than five minutes left in the payoff period, 84-67, the Tiger Cubs went on an 11-0 run highlighted by two Charles Bucsit triples to cut the FEU lead to six with 1:43 remaining, 84-78.
UST could not capitalize on its defensive stops in the clutch as Bucsit missed a three-pointer and a layup, while the Baby Tamaraws pressed on Andrei Dungo’s layup attempt with under 10 seconds left.
FEU, lifted by 10 first-quarter points by Veejay Pre, closed the opening canto with an 11-point lead over the Tiger Cubs, 26-15.
The Baby Tamaraws’ 21-17 second quarter widened their lead to 15 at halftime, 47-32.
UST only converted 25 of its 69 shot attempts (36.2 percent), while FEU made 33 of its 76 attempts (43.4 percent).
The Baby Tamaraws grabbed 57 total rebounds against UST’s 33. They also doubled the Tiger Cubs’ offensive rebounds, 21-10.
Pre posted a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds along with two blocks, while Jedric Daa and Miranda chalked up 18 and 15 markers, respectively.
Koji Buenaflor led UST with 23 points, five rebounds and two blocks, while Dungo chipped in 16 points.
The Final Four is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
