A LACKLUSTER third quarter hounded the UST Growling Tigers as they suffered their first loss in Season 87 at the hands of the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 56-69, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, Sept. 15.
UST scored just six points in the third period, five of which came from Nic Cabañero. As a team, the Tigers converted just two of their 17 shots, or a dismal 11.8 percent, in the third frame, where they were outscored by Adamson, 19-6.
Adamson ran away with the lead after unleashing an 11-3 run capped off by a Matthew Montebon triple, burying the Tigers 52-38 ahead of the payoff period.
Late into the fourth quarter, the Soaring Falcons gained a 20-point edge, their largest lead of the game, after Joshua Yerro completed a 3-point play, 67-47.
Tigers Chase Lane and Kyle Paranada combined for five points in garbage time to make it a 13-point UST loss.
“Kailangan din naming respetuhin every team sa UAAP,” Cabañero said postgame. “So, I think it’s a wake-up call for us to improve on what we need to improve, and kung ano mang kulang sa team namin, dapat ready na kami anytime.”
UST blasted Adamson in the opening frame, 20-13, courtesy of 3-pointers from Cabañero, Geremy Robinson, and Migs Pangilinan.
After trailing for the majority of the second half, Adamson garnered the lead courtesy of Matthew Montebon’s second-chance effort in the paint bridging the second half, 33-32.
The Tigers struggled from the field, shooting 33.3 percent (19-for-57), and were outrebounded 46-33 by the Soaring Falcons.
Cabañero was the only Tiger to score in double digits with 16 points and five rebounds, while Christian Manaytay and Mo Tounkara followed with nine and seven points, respectively.
UST floor general Forthsky Padrigao struggled from the field with 1-for-7 shooting but produced six assists and four rebounds.
Montebon led the Soaring Falcons with 15 points, four assists, and five rebounds, while Anthony Fransman and former Tiger Royce Mantua added 11 points apiece.
The UST Growling Tigers will look to bounce back against the NU Bulldogs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, Sept 21, at 4:30 p.m.
