UST bounces back, extends win streak over UP to 19

Louie Vigil puts up a shot. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of Santo Tomas went back to winning ways as it stopped University of the Philippines, 83-77, in the UAAP Season 79 Seniors’ Basketball Tournament Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Growling Tigers was at the mercy of De La Salle University on Wednesday in a 100-62 shellacking and their win over the Maroons is a welcome respite as they stabilize their record to 2-2.

UP, which dropped 0-3, continued its decade-long misery at the hands of the Growling Tigers’ that has stretched to 19 games, with its last win over UST coming as far back as 2006.

UST head coach Boy Sablan said everything boiled down to their change in defense, and a little pep talk after their disaster against La Salle.

“From zone this time nag man-to-man kami, maganda naman outcome kahit papano,” said Sablan. “Afer La Salle, nag-usap lang kami, kinausap ko silang lahat and tried to talk to each one of them.”

“Nakita naman natin nag respond mga bata and si [Louie] Vigil ganda ng nilaro.”

UST’s win, however, didn’t come without any tribulation as UP went from 10 points down, 63-53, to tie it at 68-68.

A pair of Tiger rookies, though, would hand UST back the lead with Oliver De Guzman and Regie Basibas exchanging baskets for their 76-71 lead with 2:19 left.

And captain Louie Vigil, who finished with 18 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, extended that lead to 79-71 on a fastbreak layup.

Basibas and De Guzman had 11 points apiece for UST while Kent Lao and Renzo Subido had 10 points each.

Jett Manuel led the Fighting Maroons with 19 points.

The Scores
UST 83 – Vigil 18, Basibas 11, De Guzman 11, Lao 10, Subido 10, Faundo 6, Sheriff 6, Lee 6, Huang 4, Afoakwah 1, Macasaet 0
UP 77 – Manuel 19, Dario 14, Gomez de Liano 12, Desiderio 10, Webb 9, Romero 4, Harris 3, Espanola 3, Longa 2, Lao 1, Asilum 0, Prado 0, Jaboneta 0, Lim 0
Quarters: 15-11, 34-34, 59-53, 83-77