THE UST Tiger Cubs extended their winning streak to five games after breezing past the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 69-59, in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Thursday, Feb. 6.
UST improved to a 5-1 record, while Ateneo remained winless through six games.
Despite the victory, UST head coach Manu Iñigo expressed frustration over the team’s slow start in the match.
“Actually, we’re not happy with the way we played,” Iñigo said postgame. “Buti na lang noong crunchtime nakapag-execute sila kasi noong ibang quarters nagkakanya-kanya e, wala sa system ‘yong ginagawa nila. They took the game lightly.”
“Nag-backfire sa amin pero buti nag-respond ‘yong key players noong crucial (moments),” he added.
The frontcourt duo of Koji Buenaflor and Racine Kane dominated inside, helping UST score 34 points in the paint and grab 46 rebounds against Ateneo’s 30.
The Blue Eagles started strong, shooting 8-for-15 from (53.3%) to take the first frame, 19-14.
UST ramped up offensively in the second quarter and threatened to break away, but Blue Eagles Chris Urbina and Alfonso Tan responded late in the frame to keep the game close at halftime, 37-36.
Buenaflor and Kane asserted their presence in the paint to help UST outscore Ateneo 14-6 in the third frame and extend the lead heading into the final frame, 51-42.
Ateneo retaliated in the payoff period with an early 12-6 run, capped by an Urbina 3-pointer, to trim the lead to three midway through the quarter, 57-54.
With two minutes left in the game, both teams went back and forth, 62-59, until Joaquin Ludovice capitalized on Ateneo’s four crucial misses from deep to seal the win for UST, 69-59.
Ludovice paced the Tiger Cubs with a season-high 19 points after going 7-for-12 (58.3%), while Buenaflor followed with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Kane finished with his fifth double-double of the tournament with 13 markers and 14 boards despite struggling from the field.
Urbina led Ateneo with 19 points, three rebounds, and three assists, while Jay Leal tallied 11 points and 12 boards.
The UST Tiger Cubs will look to end the first round on a high note against the FEU Baby Tamaraws at the same venue on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m.
