AIMING for a semi-finals berth in their Nike Summer League (NSL) campaign, the UST Tiger Cubs coasted past Don Bosco Technical College (Don Bosco), 51-36, in their face-off last April 30 at the Far Eastern University (FEU) gym.
The win catapulted the Tiger Cubs on top of Group B in the juniors’ division with a 2-1 win-loss record.
“It was a light game for us. The team’s performance was okay but I’m not yet satisfied. There’s still a lot to improve especially in their sense of maturity,” coach Allan Ascue told the Varsitarian.
UST’s man-to-man defense in the fourth quarter limited Don Bosco’s scoring touches anywhere in the court.
Raymond Inciong led UST’s charge in the final quarter where the Tiger Cubs sat on a 49-34 cushion. Kyle Neypes virtually sealed the contest with a highlight-reel dunk with still 1:13 minutes left in the period.
UST’s 7-0 run back in the first canto set the mood for the España-based cagers, allowing them to pull away from Don Bosco, 9-2 early on. Neypes, Molline Gonzalez, and Ar-rafi Aytona successively scored for UST which gave the Tiger Cubs a 20-6 edge before back-to-back baskets from Aytona closed the quarter, 25-6.
UST carried their onslaught in the second quarter with an 18-point advantage, 27-9. Don Bosco starter Neri Andrada tried to hype his team with a lay-up maneuver in the dying seconds of the first half but UST’s 25-14 lead was too big a deficit to overcome.
Coming off from a sluggish first half, Don Bosco opened the third quarter with a three-pointer and free-throws from Kenn Guillarte and Renz Reymundo respectively, trimming down UST’s lead to 20 points, 39-19.
Kyle Neypes, however, spoiled Don Bosco’s rhythm with a three-point play that gave UST an insurmountable 23-point edge, 42-19.
UST never looked back from then on as they pounced on Don Bosco anew with a string of jumpers to stretch the lead further, 49-34, going into the final minutes of the match.
Neypes topscored for UST with 15 points, while Gonzalez piled up nine points. Guillarte led Don Bosco with 13 points.
Previously, the Tiger Cubs surrendered to the Philippine College of Criminology Enforcers, 64-68, to absorb their first loss last April 28.
The Tiger Cubs though launched their campaign on a positive note with a 57-54 nipping of San Sebastian College-Recoletos Staglets last April 22.
Out of the hunt
In the seniors’ division, the UST Growling Tigers hogged the cellar of the team standings with a 1-3 win-loss card after bowing to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 62-71, at the FEU gym last May 14.
“We are currently in the process of rebuilding our team. Both the players and the coaches are undergoing major adjustments particularly in rotation,” Tigers assistant coach Beaujing Acot told the Varsitarian. “Aside from that, the players who are fresh from high school are still learning the collegiate level’s style of play.”
UP established the biggest lead in the game at 26-46 capped by back-to-back three-pointers from Michael Silungan and Woody Co with more than a minute left in the second quarter.
UST had its chance to close the gap from the stripe but converted only five out of its 18 freethrows in the entire first half.
Midway in the third period, UST rookie Jerick Teng drained consecutive triples, while Clark Bautista hit his own trey, to trim the lead at 48-59.
The Tigers made one last push in the fourth quarter as Khazim Mirza drilled in a lay-up with just 20 ticks left in the game clock to inch closer, 62-71.
Bautista top-scored for UST with 16 markers while Mirza and Teng combined for 30 points.
UP top gunner Co exploded for 26 points, scoring 14 points in the first half alone while Martin Reyes chipped in 15 points.
Earlier in the tournament, UST fell at the hands of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 81-75, last May 12, eight days after fashioning a 79-64 manhandling of Don Bosco Technical College to register their only win in the league.
Yet to play as a cohesive unit, the Tigers opened their NSL campaign with a 55-66 setback against the pesky Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers last April 20.
UST fielded a mix of players from its Team A and B where the final roster for the UAAP Season 72 will be picked from.
“There is no guarantee that those who are playing for UST in the Nike Summer League will already make it to the UAAP line-up,” Acot said. “This would serve as a selection process for us.”
