GET ready to believe: University of Santo Tomas is for real.
Delivering a second straight statement on their UAAP Season 88 championship aspirations, the Growling Tigers scored a well-earned win against La Salle, 93-84, on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Nic Cabanero put on the finishing touches on this emphatic victory, scoring on a layup to make it a 93-82 affair. That capped off his 27-point night, as the Espana side ended a 16-game losing skid against their Taft counterparts, with their last being an 81-79 escape back in Oct. 11, 2015.
Collins Akowe continued to dominate down low, scoring eight of his 20 points in the final frame, to go with 19 rebounds, passing his great test against Mike Phillips and the rest of the Green Archers' formidable frontline with flying colors.
It was also a triumphant return for Forthsky Padrigao who played his first game and collected 12 points, nine assists, three boards, and three steals after serving his one-game suspension.
But more than the usual suspects, it was a win manufactured once more by collective effort, this time with Amiel Acido stepping up with 13 points on 3-of-8 three-point shooting alongside six rebounds.
The victory enabled UST to gain a share of the top spot in the standings at 2-0, with both of those wins coming at the expense of last year's finalists, following its 87-67 rout of defending champion University of the Philippines in its opener.
J-UST do it
What made this win impressive was how the black-and-gold repeatedly fought back, climbing from a 12-point third quarter deficit, 68-56, and kept themselves close.
And when it mattered most, they struck, turning a 79-all deadlock with 6:29 remaining and finished the match on a 14-5 tear.
Jacob Cortez paced the Green Archers with 17 points, three rebounds, and two assists, as La Salle suffered their first defeat in two games despite shooting 9-of-24 from deep.
The Scores:
UST 93 - Cabanero 27, Akowe 20, Acido 13, Padrigao 12, Paranada 9, Crisostomo 5, Llemit 3, Danting 2, Laure 2, Calum 0, Bucsit 0, Estacio 0.
LA SALLE 84 - Cortez 17, Abadam 11, Baclaan 9, Amos 9, Marasigan 9, Phillips 8, Dungo 6, Pablo 4, Gollena 4, Gomez 4, Daep 3, Nwankwo 0.
Quarters: 22-27, 45-49, 72-74, 93-84.
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