FOR six and a half minutes, University of Santo Tomas seemed headed for a second straight setback in UAAP Season 88.
Then Nic Cabanero scored his first points before the rest of the Growling Tigers joined in on the fun, as they blitzed their way back and ultimately breezed past University of the East, 111-99, Saturday, inside the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Coming off its first loss three days ago, the black-and-gold looked listless out the gates, as Drayton Caoile finally caught fire for the Red Warriors, accounting for 15 points in their 24-15 start.
From there, however, Cabanero hit both of his free throws to energize UST back to life all the way to a rise to 3-1 in the standings.
Tigers turn it around
It also didn't hurt that Nigerian dynamo Collins Akowe returned to form, dropping 18 points, 17 rebounds, and thee blocks - already with a double-double by halftime.
With Akowe feasting in the paint, co-captains Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao did damage all over, with the former finishing with 22 points and eight assists, as the latter contributed 18 points, 15 coming from beyond the arc, six assists, six steals, and three assists.
Still-winless UE wasn’t helpless at the onset, as Caoile got them on a roll, with 15 points just in the first quarter. Not much else followed, however, as he was slowed down to just eight points the rest of the way.
John Abate also willed his way to 27 points and seven assists, as Precious Momowei held his own against Akowe with 16 markers and 15 rebounds of his own.
The Scores:
UST 111 - Cabanero 22, Padrigao 18, Akowe 18, Acido 11, Llemit 11, Danting 9, Calum 9, Crisostomo 8, Bucsit 3, Buenaflor 2, Paranada 0, Estacio 0
UE 99 - Abate 27, Caoile 23, Momowei 16, Tanedo 11, Datumalim 9, Malaga 6, Lagat 3, Jimenez 2, Rosete 2, Robles 0, Cruz Dumont 0, Despi 0
Quarters: 29-31, 59-55, 83-67, 111-99
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