UAAP: UE spoils Pido Jarencio’s first game back with UST

UE Red Warriors’ Rey Remogat in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Noy Remogat and Precious Momowei delivered a pair of double-double performances as the new-look University of the East spoiled  University of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio’s return with an 80-70 victory in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Remogat, who was a bench player for the Red Warriors last year, proved that he can lead his team with 21 points and 10 assists on top of three steals, while Nigerian student-athlete Momowei debuted with 17 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks, and three steals.

Jack Cruz-Dumont was also impressive in his first UAAP game with 16 points, including the clutch baskets that kept UST at bay, and seven rebounds. Abdul Sawat set the tone for the Red Warriors, scoring 13 of his 15 markers in the first half. 

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 basketball men’s and women’s first round

UE coach Jack Santiago was pleased to win their first game as season host–a first nine years since their 87-59 win over University of the Philippines last Season 77.

“I’m so happy with the outcome of the game. At least our boys responded very well. Actually, we didn’t scout UST because we didn’t see them play for the past 10 months. I told my players, knowing coach Pido, he’s a winning coach and a veteran coach also. They will come out strong and they will give us a lot of surprises. They made a run, I just told the boys not to give up and they responded well,” said Santiago in Filipino after handing UST’s 14th straight defeat dating back last season.

UE Red Warriors’ Precious Momowei. –MARLO CUETO

The Red Warriors led as many as 19 points with 4:09 remaining in the third quarter behind the big shots of Remogat.

But the Growling Tigers didn’t go down without a fight, erasing a 71-54 deficit with a 13-4 run capped by Nic Cabañero’s lay-up and a three-point play from Mark Llemit to turn it into an eight-point game, 75-67, with 2:03 remaining.

Remogat found Cruz-Dumont open as the latter nailed a clutch corner trey, 78-67, with 1:20 left, followed by Cabañero’s fifth foul off a charge. Cruz-Dumont sealed the game with two free throws.

UE unleashed a 22-9 start but UST recovered with a 12-0 run to cut it down to one, 22-21, at the end of the opening quarter. The Red Warriors got their act together before halftime with a 46-34 spread and pulled away in the third.

Cabañero led the Tigers with 18 points and eight rebounds. Christian Manaytay had 15 points and eight boards, while Migs Pangilinan added 10 points from three triples.

UE eyes its second win against the runner-up UP on Wednesday at MOA Arena at 10 a.m., while UST tries to bounce back against Adamson at 2 p.m.

The scores:

UE (80) — Remogat 21, Momowel 17, Cruz-Dumont 16, Sawat 15, Wilson 6, Lingolingo 3, Alcantara 2, Galang 0, Tulabut 0, Maglupay 0, Gilbuena 0, Fikes 0, Langit 0.

UST (70) — Cabañero 18, Manaytay 15, Pangilinan 10, Calum 9, Laure 7, Llemit 3, Gesalem 3, Manalang 2, Crisostomo 2, Faye 1, Duremdes 0, Lazarte 0, Moore 0, Ventulan 0, Magdangal 0. Quarterscores: 22-21, 46-34, 64-48, 80-70