UST Growling Tigers Escapes NU Bulldogs

philippine basketball

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

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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

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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.

STRONG 3RD QUARTER HELPS WASHINGTON-LED SMB TAKE SEMIS SERIES OPENER

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They have been out of sight for a while so the defending champion San Miguel Beermen reminded James Yap and company who they were up against.

SMB delivered the message in the third quarter and Jay Washington made sure the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados got it loud and clear.

Washington was like a man possessed in that telling quarter, going 6-for-12 from the field for 14 points as the defending champions separated from B-Meg Derby Ace on the way to a 101-88 blowout Wednesday at the start of their PBA Fiesta Conference semifinal series at the Araneta Coliseum.

"Miller Time" as Ginebra Beat the Beermen

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After recently acquired by the Gin Kings in exchange for Cyrus Baguio, Willie Miller had his breakthrough game in Ginebra's uniform, erupting for a 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter that pushed the game wide open in the fourth quarter, helping the Ginebra Gin Kings breeze past the league leading San Miguel Beer, 104-90. The win halt the Beermen's winning streak to 9 games, thus, extending the Gin Kings streak to 4 games. They have an 8-4 win-loss card to claim solo third in the standings.

Golden Stags going up against the Red Lions

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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.