The UST Growling Tigers defeated the NU Bulldogs, the top seed in the UAAP Final Four and forces a rubber match ending the game with the final score 71-62 in favor of the underdog UST Tigers.
Photo Credit: ABS-CBNNews
The Tigers made a tremendous display of team play days after they survived a knockout match against the five-time defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles and proved once and for all that they deserved the slot in the final four of the UAAP Season 76.
UST’s Kevin Ferrer led the Tigers with his impressive performance of 14 points and 5 rebounds supported by Clark Bautista and Aljon Mariano who added with 12 and 10 points respectively.
The Growling Tigers is looking forward for a return trip to the title series after they finished as runners-up during the last edition of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Jeric Tend and UST’s big man Karim Abdul only scored by just 8 and 7 points respectively but all of the 10 UST players fielded by coach Pido Jarencio were able to produce for their team.
The scores:
UST 71 – Ferrer 14, Mariano 12, Bautista 12, Teng 8, Abdul 7, Sheriff 6, Pe 6, Lo 2, Lao 2, Daquioag 2
NU 62 – Alolino 17, Parks 14, Rono 8, Mbe 8, Khobuntin 5, Villamor 5, Porter 3, Alejandro 2, Rosario 0, Javillonar 0, Javelona 0
Quarter-scores: 19-8, 39-23, 54-44, 71-62