
THE UST Tiger Cubs failed to complete a late comeback, falling short against the Collins Akowe-led NUNS Bullpups, 71-60, in their UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball tournament opener at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Sunday, Jan. 19.
Akowe paced the Bullpups with a double-double of 21 points and 26 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes played, helping NUNS outrebound the Tiger Cubs, 67-51, and outscore them in the paint, 44-20.
NUNS outscored the Tiger Cubs 48-27 in the first half, a deficit UST attempted to trim using a 21-12 third quarter and a late surge in the final period but to no avail.
The Tiger Cubs ended the game with an abysmal 22.8% (21 for 92) shooting from the field. They also failed to capitalize on NUNS’ 27 turnovers, converting just 15 points off of them.
“Ang sama ng start namin e. Medyo tight sila masyado, nawala sila sa focus nila, nanggigil sila kaagad noong nalamanagan. Gusto nila maka-recover agad individually,” UST head coach Manu Iñigo told the Varsitarian.
The Tiger Cubs played without forward Alfred Loreto, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor today. Loreto is expected to miss a considerable amount of time as he undergoes recovery and rehabilitation.
“Medyo mabigat din ‘yong hearts ng players kasi nga nawala ‘yong isang teammate nila na pambantay talaga dapat natin kay Akowe. Nakapag-adjust kami late na e,” Iñigo said.
UST started slow offensively, allowing NUNS to claim the first quarter in dominant fashion, 23-8.
Akowe extended the Bullpups’ dominance into the second quarter with nine points and eight rebounds to give NUNS a 48-27 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Tiger Cubs mounted an 18-7 run, capped off by an Emmanuel Catalan jumper, to cut the deficit to 12, 60-48, heading into the payoff period.
UST continued to chip away at NUNS’s lead in the payoff period until Bullpup Carl Alfanta sank a breakaway layup to extinguish the Tiger Cubs’ hopes for a comeback, 71-60.
Charles Bucsit led UST in the opener loss with 15 points and five rebounds, while Charles Esteban tallied 13 points and nine rebounds.
Carl Alfanta added 15 points for NUNS.
The UST Tiger Cubs will look to bounce back against the UPIS Junior Fighting Maroons at the same venue on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m.