UST Growling Tigers Escapes NU Bulldogs

UAAP

The University of Sto. Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers relied on their outside shooting to squeeze out a thrilling 59-58 win against vastly improved National University (NU) Bulldogs on Thursday in the UAAP Season 73 at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Growling Tigers hit 5 triples in the payoff period to overcome a sluggish start and register their 3rd win in 5 games.

Trailing by two, 49-47, midway in the 4th period, an unlikely hero emerged from UST.

Carmelo Afuang scored 9 of the next 12 points of the Tigers to grab the momentum going into the final 2 minutes of the see-saw battle.

The 6-foot-3 Afuang, one of UST’s “undersized” big men, drilled in a surprise three-pointer to cap off his heroics, padding its lead to 6 points, 59-53, with 2:19 left.

NU still had a chance to save the game, which it controlled for the most part, but could not execute properly against UST’s tenacious defense.

A broken play led to Emmanuel Mbe’s basket that closed the gap, 59-58, with 4.8 seconds remaining. But the Tigers escaped with the win as the Bulldogs were 3 fouls short from getting to the penalty situation.

FEU Tamaraws Edge La Salle Green Archers in an Double Overtime Thriller

UAAP

League leader Far Eastern University Tamaraws needed two overtimes to escape the upset axe of the De La Salle Green Archers, 84-80, on Thursday to remain unbeaten in the UAAP Season 73 men’s basketball at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tamaraws relied on their experience and big heart to pull off the great comeback from seven points late in regulation.

Unheralded rookie-transferee Carl Cruz came off the bench to keep the Tamaraws afloat early on before their veterans took over towards the end of regulation and the two overtimes.

Far Eastern University Remains Unbeaten

UAAP

League-leading Far Eastern University (FEU) solidified its hold of the top spot, overrunning a listless University of the Philippines (UP), 94-70, yesterday to remain unbeaten in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

The Tamaraws got a big offensive lift from rookie sensation Terrence Romeo, who fired a career-high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including three triples in a crucial stretch bridging the third and fourth quarters, to help FEU earn its fourth straight win in as many starts.

Golden Stags going up against the Red Lions

UAAP

The San Sebastian Stags will face the defending champions San Beda Red Lions in the finals of the NCAA tomorrow. Fresh from the repulsing off the JRU Heavy Bombers, the Stags will have to overcome lack of experience competing against the defending champs.. MVP-Like Jimbo Aquino will lead the way for the Stags while Sudan Daniels, playing for his first time in the finals will lead the charge for the Red Lions.

UE Red Warriors VS Ateneo Blue Eagles

UAAP

The University of the East Red Warriors will face the heavily favored Ateneo Blue Eagles in the much awaited showdown of the UAAP this Thursday. Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao, Eric Salamat and Jai Reyes will spearhead the team once again following the drubbing of the UST Growling Tigers 81-64 in their final four stint. However, the UE Red Warriors, the real underdogs of this series, will again in the person of Paul Lee, Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas. The upset-minded Red Warriors will be doing a huge task of upsetting the defending champions. They are coming off with an emotional win against the talented FEU Tamarraws, which the latter, having a twice to beat advantage. Expect a great battle between this two schools.