The UST Growling Tigers punched their ticket to the Pinoyliga – The Big Dance finals after pulling away late to defeat the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 76-68, on Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Tigers overcame a sloppy offensive outing, committing 21 turnovers while recording just 10 assists. Collins Akowe led UST with a game-high 21 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Mark Llemit chipped in 19 points.
Incoming rookie Kirk Cañete contributed eight points, five rebounds and five assists.
UST took early control with a 15-9 lead before Ateneo trimmed the deficit to one, 19-18. The Tigers answered with a 5-0 run to close the quarter ahead, 24-18.
With the Tigers ahead by eight, 36-28, Ateneo responded with a 14-4 surge capped by a Shawn Tuano layup to take its first lead, 42-40. Llemit’s layup restored UST’s advantage at halftime, 43-42.
The teams exchanged baskets in a tightly contested third quarter, with the Blue Eagles keeping the Tigers within reach. Trailing by four, 56-52, UST mounted a 6-2 run highlighted by a close-range shot from Llemit to end the quarter tied at 58-all.
The Tigers opened the final frame with a 15-5 run to take a 73-63 lead, but Ateneo scored five unanswered points with 1:38 remaining to threaten a comeback. UST kept its composure down the stretch, with Koji Buenaflor’s late dunk putting the game away, 76-68.
Kieffer Alas paced Ateneo with 13 points, while Andrew Bongo added 10.
UST will face the Centro Escolar University Scorpions in the finals on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
