April 30, 2015, 10:46 a.m. – THE UST Growling Tigers
banked on a fiery fourth quarter to blast the Mapua Cardinals, 78-59, and notch
their first win in the 2015 Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the San Juan
Arena Wednesday.
The still undermanned UST side bounced back following a
close opening day loss against the University of the East.
Mario Bonleon led the Growling Tigers anew as he unloaded 13
consecutive points in a 17-3 UST run to establish a 15-point lead in the fourth
quarter, 72-57.
Bonleon finished with 22 points and five rebounds. Veterans
Ed Daquioag and John Sheriff added 14 and 12, respectively.
“Ang hirap talaga [na] may injuries lahat, good thing
‘yung mga rookies talagang may puso maglaro,” head coach Bong dela Cruz
said. “Maganda ‘yung attitude nila and nandun yung willingness nila to
win.”
The Tigers mounted a 12-0 surge to build an eight-point
cushion in the second quarter, 35-27.
But UST squandered its lead as the Cardinals countered with
a 7-0 run to end the first half down by only two, 35-33.
UST will next face reigning NCAA champions San Beda Red
Lions on Saturday, May 2, at the same venue. J. D. G. Saynes
***
BOX SCORE
UST 78 – Bonleon 22, Daquioag 14, Sheriff 12, Lee 9, Huang
6, Magno 5, Kakonda 2, Caunan 2, Faundo 2
MIT 59 – Serrano 13, Isit 11, Oraeme 10, Dela Rosa 5, Nimes
4, Nieles 4, Brana 3, Villasenor 3, Que 2, Layug 2, Tubiano 2
Quarter scores: 19-18, 35-33, 51-48, 78-59
