University of Santo Tomas sent University of the Philippines crashing with a methodical 86-72 beating in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
It is the Growling Tigers’ first string of consecutive victories, ending their first round campaign with a 3-4 record for a tie with the Fighting Maroons, who are coming off a close 89-88 win over National U last Sunday.
UST, playing without the medically sidelined Steve Akomo, was off to a blistering start building a 12-2 lead off of CJ Cansino’s layup with less than four minutes into the first quarter.
The Growling Tigers continued to throw the haymakers, eventually taking a 52-27 lead late in the second quarter after Cansino’s trip to the foul line.
The Maroons put up a semblance of a fight late in the game, but UST’s lead proved too big to overcome.
“Everybody came to play today, they played well, they executed the game plan and they were more relaxed,” said UST head coach Aldin Ayo. “They were just playing basketball, having fun and they were playing as a team.”
UP was down 76-46 headed into the fourth quarter but managed to trim the deficit to 14, 83-69, with 1:59 left after Will Gozum’s basket but time was on the Growling Tigers’ side.
Cansino filled the stat sheets for UST with 16 points, on 5-of-6 shooting, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and two steals while Renzo Subido finished with 13 points and six assists.
Kenneth Zamora and Marvin Lee added 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Zach Huang missed out on a double-double with nine points and 13 boards.
Bright Akhuetie had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Fighting Maroons.
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