UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas took out its frustrations on the University of the Philippines Integrated School to the tune of the biggest winning margin in UAAP boys' basketball in the post-pandemic era, 98-45, on Wednesday inside San Juan's Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Racine Kane pounded in a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double to go with three steals and two assists, as the Tiger Cubs triggered a 33-5 opening salvo en route to their first win in two games in Season 87.
The black-and-gold was never threatened from the opening tip, with Kirk Canete stuffing the stat sheet with 15 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals and Joaqui Ludovice also contributed 10 markers to bounce back from his 1-of-12 outing to start the season.
UST showed no mercy at both ends, making good on 48-percent of its field goals, including a total of 12 triples, while suffocating the Jr. Maroons into missing 37 of its 53 shots.
The Tiger Cubs dominated all statistical categories, with a 50-18 advantage inside the paint and a 42-19 edge outside of it. The former also forced 18 errors from the latter which were then converted to 37 points.
Also evening out its record to 1-1 is defending champion Adamson which turned down the hype on University of the East courtesy of a 75-66 decision.
Allan Perez was uber-efficient in 19 minutes of play with 19 points and seven rebounds, as Gilas Pilipinas Youth players Earl Medina and Mark Esperanza merged for 32 markers, nine boards, eight dimes, and five steals. Following their tough loss to open their championship retention bid, the Baby Falcons regrouped and put forth a better all-around effort for their first win in the post-Tebol Garcia and Vince Reyes era.
The also-1-1 Jr. Warriors were paced by Jean Bana with 16 points and eight rebounds, as main man Edry Alejandro struggled for the second straight game with only six markers and eight boards.
NUNS, FEU-Diliman stay spotless ahead of showdown
Sharing the top spot and both unbeaten through two tries are NU-Nazareth School and FEU-Diliman following separate convincing victories.
The Bulldogs whipped De La Salle Zobel, 91-69, behind reigning MVP Collins Akowe's 21-point, 21-rebound double-double.
The Nigerian big was flanked by Iver Napa and his 13 points in 17 minutes, as well as Mac Alfanta and Ainhumaeri Usop who scored 11 markers apiece.
On the other hand, Marc Burgos and Mico Pascual took the cudgels from Cabs Cabonilas to make sure the Baby Tamaraws charged right through Ateneo, 82-72.
Burgos wound up with 15 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals, as Pascual chimed in his own 14 markers, six boards, and two dimes. Make no mistake, though, Cabonilas still played big with 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three blocks.
Bonn Daja (21 points, four rebounds) and Kieffer Alas (17 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals) fronted the losing effort for the Jr. Archers (1-1), while Chris Urbina stood at the forefront in the Blue Eagles' (0-2) losing cause with 21 points built on four treys.
UPIS, meantime, couldn't build on its morale-boosting overtime loss to DLSZ the last time around and only had Jaime Gomez de Liano and his 11 points, nine rebounds, and two assists as bright spot.
The Scores:
First Game
NUNS 91 - Akowe 21, Napa 13, Alfanta 11, Usop 11, Palanca 8, Locsin 6, Cartel 6, Matias 5, Natinga 3, Lucido 3, Figueroa 2, Casala 0, Solomon 0, Nepacena 0, Bouzina 0
DLSZ 69 - Daja 21, Alas 17, Mben 10, Favis 9, Arejola 5, Espinosa 2, Reguera 2, Atienza 2, Dabao 1, Borrero 0, Lopez 0, Gubat 0, Alpapara 0, Tailan 0
Quarters: 20-13, 50-30, 68-44, 91-69
Second Game
ADAMSON 75 - Perez 19, Medina 17, Esperanza 15, De Jesus 12, Sajili 5, Umali 5, Tumaneng 2, Abayon 0, Murillo 0, Penafiel 0, Matillano 0
UE 66 - Bana 16, Lagat 14, Aguas 10, Alejandro 6, Timbol 6, Diaz 5, Lorenzo 3, Bual 2, Almanza 2, Sabroso 2, Roquid 0, Dahino 0, Chua 0
Quarters: 14-16, 28-32, 54-47, 75-66
Third Game
FEU-DILIMAN 82 - Burgos 15, Pascual 14, Cabonilas 12, Salangsang 9, Hall 6, Gemao 6, Esperanza 6, De Guzman 4, Godoy 2, Raneses 2, Maierhofer 2, Gutierrez 2, Cagurungan 2, Castillejos 0, Dagcutan 0, Santos 0
ATENEO 72 - Urbina 24, Espinas 18, Lacsamana 8, Gatmaitan 6, Asistio 5, Leal 4, Lagdamen 3, Kallos 2, Delos Santos 2, Reyes 0, Ymasa 0, Kaw 0, Tan 0
Quarters: 21-18, 43-36, 56-48, 82-72
Fourth Game
UST 98 - Kane 19, Canete 15, Ludovice 10, Solon 8, Manding 8, Catalan 8, Buenaflor 6, Cinco 6, Acido 6, Esteban 5, Bucsit 3, Vidanes 2, Bandingan 2, Bohol 0, Javier 0
UPIS 45 - Gomez de Liano 11, Melicor 10, Hallare 7, Egea 6, Pascual 5, Tubongbanua 2, Hernandez 2, Poquiz 2, Coronel 0, Uvero 0, Mariano 0, Gepitan 0, Rosete 0, Addatu 0, Cobico 0
Quarters: 33-5, 55-15, 80-24, 98- 45
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