THIS is not our year.
The UST Growling Tigers failed to end their forgettable season on a high note after a 73-78 loss to the University of the East Red Warriors in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sept. 16.
Graduating team captain Aljon Mariano went all out in his last UAAP game with the Tigers after finishing with a game-high 18 points despite their elimination in the Final Four race by a loss to De La Salle University two games back.
With less than two minutes left in the payoff period, the Growling Tigers trimmed a 12-point deficit to six, 69-75, after Karim Abdul scored four straight points.
However, Mariano’s fifth and last foul led to UE’s Roi Sumang sealing the win with a dagger layup, 77-69.
Abdul and Ed Daquioag, who contributed 16 and 13 points, respectively, still tried to salvage UST by scoring four more points, but came up short as the time expired.
The Growling Tigers finished the season at sixth place with a 5-9 record and will miss the Final Four for the first time since Season 73 when they landed at seventh place.
Paolo Pe (9 points) and Kim Lo (7 points), who also played their last game for UST, likewise made their presence felt.
“Overall, ‘yung game ng mga bata maganda. Nakita naman ng crowd ‘yung fighting pride nila kaya lang ‘yung breaks ng game hindi napunta sa atin,” Growling Tigers head coach Bong dela Cruz said.
The rookie coach also took the blame for the Tigers’ disappointing season after coming from back-to-back finals appearances.
“I failed. The players did their best, pero sa ‘kin nagkaproblema,” he said. “’Yung system na in-adopt ko, hindi nag-fit sa team.”
After posting a 17-15 first quarter lead, the Growling Tigers looked confused in the second period after committing three consecutive turnovers that led to an 8-0 UE run courtesy of back-to-back baskets from Chris Javier, 23-17.
But UST went on a 14-3 surge with Lo and Daquioag scoring four points apiece to give the Tigers a five-point lead, 31-26, until Dan Alberto pushed the Red Warriors ahead, 36-35, going into the second half.
UST never managed to regain the lead in the second half as Charles Mammie, who came late into the game after sitting at the bench in the first half, quickly made an impact inside the paint to help UE build a 13-point lead, 58-45.
Bong Gallanza paced the Red Warriors with 17 points while Alberto scored 15 markers.
Box scores:
UST 73 – Mariano 18, Daquioag 16, Abdul 13, Pe 9, Lo 7, Sheriff 6, Vigil 4, Basibas 0, Faundo 0, Gayosa 0, Lao 0, Subido 0.
UE 78 – Galanza 17, Alberto 15, Sumang 10, Varilla 9, Javier 8, Mammie 7, Palma 4, Arafat 3, Guiang 2, Olayon 2, Jumao-as 1.
Quarter scores: 17-15, 35-36, 50-60, 73-78.
