AFTER 12 years, University of Santo Tomas is back in the semifinals of the Playtime Cares Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
To get a breakthrough finals berth in the 18th edition of the preseason tournament, however, the Growling Tigers need to go through a National U side rounding into form after a gutsy quarterfinals win, Friday in San Juan's Playtime Cares Filoil Centre.
The Bulldogs lost a 14-point lead in the final frame before recovering just in time to repulse hard-charging Letran, 79-77, behind clutch plays on both ends by Jake Figueroa.
NU failed to protect a 75-61 advantage with five minutes remaining, as Luis Tapenio and Titing Manalili led a 16-3 rush that closed the Knights to one point down, 77-78, with eight ticks to go.
Sent to the line, Figueroa then split his free throws before wasting no time playing defense and snatching the ball away from Manalili's grasp as time expired.
"Ang magandang nangyari ngayon, si Jake, coming off injury, nakabalik nang maganda. Ang kelangan lang namin pa, yung support sa kanya," said head coach Jeff Napa of his top gun who had been dealing with a cut on his forehead.
Figueroa wound up with 21 points, six rebounds, and four steals, as Jolo Manansala backstopped him with 16 markers, six boards, and three assists of his own.
Manalili topped the scoring column for Letran with 18 points on top of eight assists, seven rebounds, and two steals, while Deo Cuajao and Kevin Santos chipped in 14 markers apiece. They bowed out of the tourney which has PlayTime Cares, Filoil, EcoOil, Hanes, Bostik El Heneral, Jiang Nan Hotpot, Lamtex Pipes, Smart, and Puso Pilipinas as major sponsors, Spalding as official game ball, and Harbor Star, Wallem, Akari, BDO, Tela.com Athletics, Nature’s Spring, Reyes Barbecue, and Brothers Burger as minor sponsors after claiming the top seed out of the NCAA Group.
UST's way into the semifinals
The Growling Tigers, for their part, also had to dig deep to dispose of Emilio Aguinaldo College, 82-73.
Gelo Crisostomo posted a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double to lead four other teammates in double-digits, as UST had all the answers even as the Generals kept coming.
Koji Buenaflor and Kyle Paranada each scored 12 points, while Nic Cabanero and Peter Osang also added 11 and 10 markers, respectively. That was more than enough to offset a three-point, 1-of-11 outing from the field by lead guard Forthsky Padrigao.
The Growling Tigers return to the Final Four for the first time since 2013, during Pido Jarencio's first stint as shot-caller in Espana.
EJ Castillo paced EAC with 14 points, as Jude Bagay and Jae Omandac each chipped in 13 markers.
The Scores:
Second Game
NATIONAL U 79 - Figueroa 21, Manansala 16, John 9, Dela Cruz 8, Francisco 7, Enriquez 6, Palacielo 5, Santiago 3, Padrones 2, Solomon 2, Jumamoy 0, Parks 0
LETRAN 77 - Manalili 18, Cuajao 14, Santos 14, Tapenio 11, Estrada 8, Rosillo 5, Buensalida 4, Omega 3, Roque 0, Gammad 0, Silorio 0, Yusi 0, Alejandro 0
Quarters: 28-20, 49-39, 64-60, 79-77
Third Game
UST 82 - Crisostomo 17, Buenaflor 12, Paranada 12, Cabanero 11, Osang 10, Acido 6, Danting 5, Padrigao 3, Estacio 3, Bucsit 3, Laure 0, Alao 0
EAC 73 - Castillo 14, Bagay 13, Omandac 13, Ochavo 6, Tolentino 5, Oftana 5, Angeles 4, Villarente 4, Quinal 3, Loristo 3, Shanoda 3, Bacud 0, Dominguez 0, Cosa 0
Quarters: 25-14, 46-40, 62-50, 82-73
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