IF there was a game to bring believers back to University of Santo Tomas, this was probably it.
And the Growling Tigers couldn't have picked a better time to do just that than on Sunday, as they emphatically punched their Final Four ticket in this crazy UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament.
UST got back at league leader National U with an 80-71 victory at SM Mall of Asia Arena to lock up the No. 3 seed in the postseason.
The Growling Tigers still have one assignment left in their ledger against Far Eastern University before heading into a semifinal showdown against defending champion and twice-to-beat University of the Philippines.
"Maraming pinaguusapan, maraming nagdududa. Itong UST, joke lang ba ito? No, we're here. Parating na kami," said coach Pido Jarencio, who appeared before the press for the first time this season and even serenaded the crowd basking in the win.
Go USTe into the Final Four
Collins Akowe proved to be a thorn on the side of his high school alma mater with an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double; Mark Llemit drained two treys for his 11 points, three boards, and two assists; and Amiel Acido went 3-of-4 from three-pointers for his 11 points and three rebounds, as the Growling Tigers shot 10-of-22 from distance.
Kyle Paranada got nine points, five assists, and four boards; Nic Cabanero added nine points and six rebounds; and Forthsky Padrigao had eight points and three crucial steals in the endgame to round out the balanced showing from UST.
The Growling Tigers put an end to the five-game win run for the Bulldogs, who nonetheless ended elims as the top seed with an 11-3 record.
MVP frontrunner Jake Figueroa, misfiring all game long, did not see action in the payoff period and wound up with three points, two rebounds, and two assists in 20 minutes of play.
In his stead, Omar John paced NU with 12 points and 11 rebounds, Nat Tulabut stepped up for his misfiring peers with 10 points and three boards, and Tebol Garcia had nine points, three assists, and two rebounds in the loss.
The Scores:
UST 80 - Crisostomo 13, Akowe 11, Llemit 11, Acido 11, Paranada 9, Cabanero 9, Padrigao 8, Buenaflor 7, Estacio 1, Laure 0, Calum 0.
NU 71 - John 12, Tulabut 10, Garcia 9, Manansala 8, Palacielo 6, Padrones 6, Dela Cruz 4, Parks 4, Francisco 3, Figueroa 3, Jumamoy 3, Enriquez 3, Solomon 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 16-19, 37-38, 58-53, 80-71.
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