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    UST Tigers outduel UP Maroons in thriller, earn shot at Ateneo in UAAP Finals

    UST dream run continues as Tigers break UP's hearts in gripping do-or-die match
    Nov 13, 2019
    PHOTO: Marlo Cueto

    RENZO Subido hit a cold-blooded three-pointer in the dying seconds, leading University of Santo Tomas to a gripping 68-65 win over University of the Philippines and to an unlikely trip to the UAAP Season 82 Finals.

    The graduating guard pumped life into the UST cause at a time when the Tigers seemed to be falling apart, hitting the last of his four treys from a good two steps away from the three-point line to erase a 65-63 Maroons lead with 23.6 seconds to go.

    Heartbreak misses by Javi Gomez de Liano and Bright Akhuetie from point-blank range set the stage for two free throws by Soulmane Chabi Yo that made it a three-point UST lead, 68-65, with 4.4 seconds remaining.

    James Spencer missed the ring completely in what turned out to be the second-seeded Maroons' final possession of the season, assuring the Tigers' first trip to the UAAP Finals since a Cinderella finish back in 2015.

    Subido finished with 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals in a thriller that played out infront of 18,548 roaring fans at the Mall of Asia Arena as fourth-seeded UST continued its dream run under Aldin Ayo.

    The Tigers now face their ultimate test in the best-of-three finals against top-seed Ateneo, which went unbeaten in 14 elimination-round games this season to earn an outright spot in the title series.

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    Game One will be on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

    "It was really tough for us because of their adjustments. We tried to counter, we were able to get our shots kaya lang hindi pumapasok," said UST coach Aldin Ayo. "But I kept on telling the boys to keep on taking those shots kasi 'yun naman 'yung mga tinitira namin."

    The third-seeded Tigers went just 7-of-39 from deep, good for 18 percent, yet beat UP for the second time in four days, to put a sorry end to a season that started with high expectations for the Maroons.

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    Chabi Yo, the Season MVP, led the way with a monstrous 22-point, 16-rebound performance for the Tigers, who kept their composure even after losing an early 18-6 first quarter lead.

    UST's shooting soured in the succeeding frames that even saw UP take a four-point lead, 65-61, after a Kobe Paras dunk with 1:53 left.

    But the Tigers wouldn't be denied.

    Rhenz Abando scored on a fastbreak to cut the lead down to two, before forcing two crucial stops, first a holding violation against Ricci Rivero and a 24-second shot clock infraction by UP with 32 seconds remaining.

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    David Murrell blocked Abando's right corner three, but Subido made sure that his shot won't be denied.

    Akhuetie led UP with 16 points, 17 rebounds, and four assists, but committed seven turnovers. Jun Manzo added 12 points and five boards, but his collegiate career ended prematurely when he fouled out with 2:33 remaining.

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    Rivero got 12 points and eight rebounds, as Juan Gomez de Liano had eight points and eight boards in the defeat.

    Paras also finished with eight points.

    The scores:

    UST 68 - Chabi Yo 22, Subido 14, Nonoy 12, Abando 11, Ando 3, Cansino 2, Concepcion 2, Paraiso 2, Bataller 0, Huang 0.

    UP 65 - Akhuetie 16, Manzo 12, Rivero 12, Ju. Gomez de Liano 8, Paras 8, Spencer 3, Ja. Gomez de Liano 2, Prado 2, Webb 2, Murrell 0, Tungcab 0.

    Quarters: 18-6, 29-28, 49-44, 68-65.

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    PHOTO: Marlo Cueto
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