THE UST Tiger Cubs dominated the DLSZ Junior Archers, 91-70, for their second win in the UAAP Season 88 junior high school basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, Sept. 27.
CJ Tabbuga led UST with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Miguel Jubilado had 20 markers, six rebounds, and four assists, albeit with 10 turnovers.
“Kung i-compare sa first game, sa defense pa rin ang problema natin,” UST head coach Noli Mejos told the Varsitarian. “Ang tinitingnan ko ay ‘yong adjustment pa rin sa kumpiyansa sa offense ng mga bench plauyers natin, especially ‘yong mga rookie na naninibago pa.”
The Tiger Cubs set the tone early, jumping to a 23-14 cushion before DLSZ pulled a 9-0 run to tie the first quarter, 23-all.
Tabbuga came out hot at the start of the second quarter, pouring in eight consecutive points to push UST’s lead to eight, 31-23.
But DLSZ rallied behind Lorenzo Purugganan to close the gap to 46-41, but Tabbuga’s timely drive kept UST ahead 50-44 at halftime.
DLSZ leaned on John Mindanao in the third quarter to go within four, 56-52, midway through. The Tiger Cubs then went on a 16-8 run to end the period, 72-60.
UST did not look back in the final quarter, outscoring the Junior Archers 19-10 en route to the win.
Purugganan powered DLSZ with 25 points while Jullian Pangan added 14.
The UST Tiger Cubs will next face the NUNS Bullpups at the Quadricentennial Pavilion on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
