THE TIGER Cubs bowed to the University of the East Junior Warriors (UE), 77-81, during the 4th FilOil-Flying V Pre-Season Invitational Cup at the Arena in San Juan last April 14.
The Cubs kept the game close until losing their composure in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter in the face of a furious UE run anchored on its skipper Chris Canicula’s steady offense.
UST did not taste the lead until the fourth canto when point guard EJ Corre drove to the basket, allowing his team to overtake the Junior Warriors, 68-67. But Canicula answered with a jumper and a charity shot and JC Duncil scored a three-pointer with 42 seconds left in the game to seal the deal for UE.
Corre topscored for UST with 28 points while Duncil was one of four UE players to score 11 points apiece.
Former Tiger center Chris Cantonjos, now the Cubs’ assistant coach, blamed the loss on the players’ lack of cohesion and familiarity with the system. He noted that the team lost 10 players, including Kyle Neypes, a member of the UAAP Mythical Five last season.
“They just got out of vacation and are in the process of going back into their game,” Cantonjos said.
