Parading a revamped lineup with new recruits, the UST Growling Tigers defeated the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 75-68, in the Asiabasket NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour on Sunday, April 19, at Blue Eagle Gym.
The game marked the debut of former Tiger Cub Kirk Cañete and Cebu recruit Henry Suico. One-and-done guard Donovan Sevilla also saw action for the Tigers.
UST notched its first win, while NU dropped to 1-1.
Amiel Acido paced the Tigers with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Koji Buenaflor and Peter Osang added 10 points each.
Collins Akowe did not see action for UST.
“We’re trying to gauge the other teams as well. We’re new, we have a lot of new players,” UST assistant coach Peter Martin told Varsitarian. “We’re trying to win the games but at the same time looking at other potential players,.” Martin said.
“We have like a lineup of 22, 23 and we’re only going to get 16 for the UAAP. So, everything is preparation for the UAAP. We like what we see,” he said.
The Tigers led early, 13-5, after a 3-pointer from Buenaflor. From there, NU answered with a 15-6 run, capped by back-to-back treys from Vince Reyes, to cut the deficit to 20-19.
Tied at 30-all, UST erupted for an 18-4 burst, with 11 points coming from Acido, to end the first half with a 14-point lead, 48-34.
The Bulldogs trimmed the gap to 10, 58-48, in the third quarter, but an 11-5 spurt by the Tigers extended the lead to 16, 69-53.
NU limited UST to just six points in the fourth quarter and cut the deficit to 10, 75-65, with two minutes remaining, but the Tigers held off the Bulldogs’ late rally to secure the win.
Justine Garcia was the lone double-digit scorer for the Bulldogs with 14 points.
UST will next face the Perpetual Help Altas on April 25 at the UP Varsity Training Center.
