DISPLAYING high energy on both ends of the court, Season 69 champions UST Growling Tigers toyed with the visiting Calvary Bible College, 84-65, in a tune-up game last March 19 at the UST Gym.
The unpredictable Tigers did not feel the absence of UAAP Finals MVP Jojo Duncil, as slotman Jervy Cruz teamed up with Anthony Espiritu and rookie Kashim Mirza in giving UST a commanding 29-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Come third quarter, the United States National Collegiate Athletics Association Division II squad tried to make an adamant stand with baskets from Tim Haskell, Kendal Wiebe and James Howard to close in at 43-32.
The Tigers, however, responded with a resounding 8-2 attack to pad the lead once more at 51-34, which later turned into a 71-49 buffer midway in the final canto due to the Tigers’ unstoppable offense that eventually hastened Calvary’s fall.
“They weren’t that competitive. I guess they weren’t just used to the conditions here,” assistant coach Rabbi Tomacruz told the Varsitarian.
Season 69 Mythical Five member Cruz led the UST scorers with 15 points, while rookie MIrza and June Dizon chipped in 14 and 13 markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, James Howard topscored for Calvary with 12 points, while Tim Haskell chipped in seven points. Heinz Jassen D. Brobo
