University of Santo Tomas waxed hot and stopped University of the East, 80-66, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Growling Tigers unleashed 16 triples to ended their three-game losing streak put thrust them to the sixth spot with a 2-4 record.
UST had a 23-17 lead after the first quarter but upped the ante in the second and outscored the Red Warriors, 16-6, to take control of the game.
The Growling Tigers led by as much as 21 in the third quarter, 44-23, on Renzo Subido’s three but UE managed to cut it down to seven, 49-42, after a 19-5 run.
UST managed to regain composure and fended off the Red Warriors for good with an 11-1 run capped by a three for CJ Cansino for the 60-43 advantage with 1:04 left in the third.
Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo said he wanted his team to detach itself from basketball and just chill out following their three-game losing streak.
“We played well and the kids played relaxed because they weren’t pressured that much,” said Ayo in Filipino.
“In the two days before our game I told them that we ‘re going to have a break and forget about basketball. Good thing it was also the birthday of one of our team managers sir Chuck Dumlao so the team went to the spa and went to the buffet.”
Subido led the Growling Tigers with 22 points while Cansino finished with a 17-point, 17-rebound double-double.
Alvin Pasaol had 32 points and 15 rebounds for the Red Warriors, but got little to no help from the rest of the crew.
UE went 19-of-65 from the floor with Pasaol owning nine of those field goals.
After a big win over Far Eastern U, UE dropped their fifth assignment and stayed at eighth seed.
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