The UST Tiger Cubs fell short against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 71-66, in the UAAP Season 85 boys’ basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Wednesday.
Both teams played cat-and-mouse throughout the match but Lebron Nieto converted a total of five points in the last 38 seconds of the fourth quarter to seal the deal for the Blue Eagles.
The Tiger Cubs concluded the first half up by three points, 42-39, then ended the third quarter down only by one point, 54-53.
With UST trailing by two points in the last 1:30 seconds of the fourth quarter, Ateneo held tightly with their two-point lead, 66-64.
UST made crucial fouls in the dying seconds of the match on which Nieto successfully capitalized, 71-66.
UST’s Mark Llemit scored another double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds while James Jumao-as contributed 15 markers.
Nieto was the sole double-digit scorer for Ateneo, scoring 18 points.
The Tiger Cubs will next face the Adamson University Baby Falcons on Sunday, Jan. 29, 4 p.m., at the San Andres Sports Complex.
