MO Tounkara's return righted the ship for University of Santo Tomas.
And it couldn't have come at a better time, all the more with the Espana side clinging on for dear life at No. 4 in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament.
Coming back from his one-game suspension, the Malian center proved to be the missing piece for UST to halt a three-game slide and come away with a 79-70 victory vs. Far Eastern University on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Tounkara produced 11 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, but more importantly, provided that brute which opened up the floor for the Growling Tigers to improve to a 5-6 win-loss record.
Nic Cabanero, back in the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the last three, uncorked 16 points, three boards, and three dimes, including the daring and-one drive that kept his side ahead, 76-67, with 37.7 seconds left.
UST guards come up big
The guards also picked up the slack, with Forthsky Padrigao notching 14 points on 3-of-9 shooting from distance, on top of four rebounds and three assists and Kyle Paranada nabbing a season-best 13-point performance in this must-win game for the black-and-gold.
“Ang iniisip lang namin itong last four games, parang do-or-die ang mindset naming kaya yung mga bata, they worked hard para manalo today,” said coach Pido Jarencio.
“It’s a total team effort. Lahat nag-contribute. Three-game losing streak kaya kailangan makabalik.”
In the same light, it also stopped a raging FEU run, snapping the Morayta crew’s two-game win run to drop them to a 3-7 card despite rookie Veejay Pre’s 31-point and 14-rebound night.
The Scores:
UST 79 – Cabanero 16, Padrigao 14, Paranada 13, Tounkara 11, Manaytay 7, Acido 6, Lane 6, Pangilinan 6, Crisostomo 0, Llemit 0, Calum 0, Estacio 0, Laure 0.
FEU 70 – Pre 31, Pasaol 9, Alforque 8, Bautista 8, Konateh 4, Anonuevo 3, Bagunu 3, Montemayor 2, Daa 2, Ona 0, Nakai 0.
Quarters: 16-13, 32-29, 50-43, 79-70.
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