The UST Growling Tigers failed to stop the winning streak of the Ateneo Bue Eagles after a 66-53 lost in the first round of elimination of the Season 74 UAAP Men’s basketball, Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Espana-based team only chipped in three points off the break, which is far to the Ateneo’s 26 fastbreak points. UST lost the game after the dominance of the defending champions in the paint with 36 markers, as compared to the Tiger’s 16.
UST controlled the first quarter of the game as they held Ateneo to only 4 out of 15 shooting from the field. The Blue Eagles bounced back due to the Growling Tiger’s 24 total turn overs, which led to 10-2 Ateneo run before the end of the first half.
With the Blue-crew’s 37-20 lead at the start of the third canto, UST responded with a 12-6 scoring run and eventually cut the lead to ten, 39-49. It was the closest for UST.
UST now hold a 2-3 win-loss card, tied with UP.
The latest defeat of UST to Ateneo was the 10th consecutive lost since the year 2007.
UST’s Team Captain and senior playmaker Jeric Fortuna led the team with his 18 markers.
BOXSCORE:
ADMU 66- Ravena 18, Salva 14, Gonzaga 8, Austria 7, Slaughter 6, Long 6, Sumalinog 2, Monfort 2, Chua 2, Golla 1, Erram 0, Tiongson 0.
UST 53- Fortuna 18, Teng 12, Ferrer 6, Pe 6, Camus 5, Abdul 4, Afuang 2, Vigil 0, Tan 0, Sheriff 0, Lo 0, Ungria 0.
QS: 10-11, 29-20, 47-34, 66-53.
By Bianca Bernardo
