SECOND stringers Oliver de Guzman and Regie Basibas delivered in the clutch as University of Santo Tomas rallied to beat University of the Philippines, 83-77, on Saturday in the 79th UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
De Guzman and Basibas were the difference makers for the Growling Tigers in a critical 8-0 run to pull away from a 71 tie in the fourth period.
The Growling Tigers bounced back from a 38-point loss to La Salle, improving their win-loss record to 2-2.
De Guzman and Basibas finished with 11 points each off the bench for the Growling Tigers
Louie Vigil led UST with 18 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
“Dumepensa kami ngayon. For the past three games, naglaro kami ng zone. Pero ngayon, all the way, nag-man-to-man kami. Nagkaroon kami ng adjustment. Maganda ‘yung outcome,” said UST coach Boy Sablan.
De Guzman and Basibas hit triples to put UST ahead,
De Guzman buried a jumper over Andrew Harris with 2:22 left in the fourth period for a 76-71 lead.
Vigil converted the game-clincher, scoring a lay-up with 1:29 to go for an eight-point lead.
Jett Manuel had 19 points, while Diego Dario scored 14 for the Maroons, who also got 12 points from rookie Javi Gomez De Liano.
Trailing, 58-68, UP fought to tie the score at 71 but couldn’t hold on and suffered its third loss in as many games.
The scores:
UST 83 — Vigil 18, Basibas 11, De Guzman 11, Lao 10, Subido 10, Faundo 6, Sheriff 6, Lee 6, Huang 4, Afoakwah 1, Macasaet 0.
UP 77 — Manuel 19, Dario 14, Gomez De Liano 12, Desiderio 10, Webb 9, Romero 4, Harris 3, Espanola 3, Longa 2, Lao 1, Asilum 0, Prado 0, Jaboneta 0, Lim 0.
Quartersores: 15-11; 34-34; 59-53; 83-77.