Winner at last as UE picks up first victory, sends UST to 0-7

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the East finally joined the winners’ table and sent University of Santo Tomas to a winless first round after a 96-91 victory in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Red Warriors improved to 1-6  at the end of the first round while the Growling Tigers were left to languish at the last spot with a 0-7 card.

Alvin Pasaol, fresh from scoring 49 points last Wednesday, dealt the final blow on the hapless UST with a rebound putback in transition giving UE a 94-91 lead with 22.7 seconds left.

UST then effectively dug its own grave when it turned the ball over in the ensuing inbounds play allowing Philip Manalang to ice the match from the free throw line.

UE head coach Derrick Pumaren lauded his team’s effort against the Growling Tigers after showing glimpses of greatness in their close 106-100 loss to defending champion La Salle on Wednesday.

“We played hard and they knew that it was not going to be easy,” said Pumaren. “We did not fold up, we were able to handle to comeback of UST and I am proud with the way they played.”

Pasaol tallied a game-high 32 points to go along 10 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals to lead the Red Warriors while Manalang added 20 points.

Mark Olayon, who made a crucial late-game block on Marvin Lee before Pasaol’s clutch basket, and Jason Varilla also came up big for UE finishing with 15 points apiece.

Marvin Lee scored a team-high 20 points for UST while Steve Akomo came shy of a 20-20 game putting up 19 points and 18 rebounds.

UST, which went a respectable 34-of-68 from the field, was pathetic from the free throw line missing 21 charities and made just 17 of its 38 attempts.