UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas relied on Nic Cabanero and Forthsky Padrigao to turn back University of the East, 80-71, and ruled the inaugural Pinoyliga Global Invitational Cup Sunday at the Enderun Colleges gym in Taguig City.
Named as Finals MVP, Padrigao top scored for 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field to go with four assists and a steal, while Cabanero contributed 17 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Two other UST players scored in double figures in Mark Llemit with 16 points and Angelo Crisostomo with 13.
New recruit Peter Osang only scored three points, but pulled down 14 boards and was instrumental in holding down UE import Precious Momowei to only nine points.
UST coach Pido Jarencio was satisfied with the way his team performed considering this was its first tournament this year after its campaign in UAAP Season 87 where the Tigers made the Final Four for the first time in six years, losing to eventual champion University of the Philippines.
“Kaka-start pa lang namin halos ngayong taon pero nakakuha agad kami ng championship. Malaking confidence builder para sa mga bata at para sa buong team,” said Jarencio.
“Pero kung titignan mo, malayung-malayo pa kami, madami pa kaming gusto introduce sa team for the next UAAP, and madami pa kami pwede na ma-improve as a team. That’s the important thing for us,” he added.
Jarencio said the Tigers would continue joining pre-season tournaments, including Pinoyliga’s Collegiate Cup this May, and have another training camp and tournament abroad just like they did in two previous years.
Meanwhile, Reiner Maga led the Red Warriors with 17 points, while Vlair Lingolingo added 12 and 10 rebounds and John Abate with 10. Aside from his nine points, Momowei also had nine boards.
Other participants in this inaugural competition of Pinoyliga are the visiting team from Japan, the Nagoya Gakuin University,the US based Fil-Am Nation Select, and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Meanwhile, Cabanero and Padrigao were both named to the Mythical 5 together with Momowei and Abate, and Nagoya’s Raiki Tanagi in the men’s side.
In the women's category, the All-Star team of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (WMPBL) defeated the UST Lady Tigers 83-77 in their separate finals to claim the championship.
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