The UST Growling Tigers broke through the NU Bulldogs for their first win in the FilOil EcoOil Pre-Season Cup in an overtime thriller, 76-75, on Wednesday, May 22, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Nic Cabañero continued his hot scoring streak by tallying 19 markers on 7-of-17 shooting, including the game-winner, a high-arcing floater that beat the buzzer.

Big man Mohamed Tounkara added 18 points and 14 rebounds, while veteran Christian Manaytay chipped in 15 points and nine boards off the bench to lift UST over Season 86 Final Four contender NU.

It was the first win of UST in the preseason tournament after close defeats against UAAP Season 86 finalists DLSU Green Archers and UP Fighting Maroons.

Trailing by nine in the early minutes of the opening frame, a late 7-2 blitz by the Tigers catapulted them within four, 13-17.

UST then snagged control from NU to lead throughout the second quarter, ending the first half on the driver's seat, 38-34.

A once double-digit lead by the Tigers to start the third quarter vanished after an 18-9 run by the Bulldogs kept the Jhocson-based squad afloat, 56-55.

With the final two minutes of the game on a deadlock, a deep triple by Cebuano guard Reinhard Jumamoy gave the lead back for NU, 62-65.

However, Cabañero answered back with a trey of his own to tie the game once more and force overtime.

Both NU’s Jolo Manansala and UST’s Manaytay delivered clutch treys for each squad in overtime, tying the game at 72 apiece.

After two crucial misses in the free throw line by rookie Tebol Garcia, Cabañero stepped up in the dying seconds of overtime by sinking a contested one-handed floater off the baseline, ultimately sealing the victory for the Tigers.

NU’s new foreign big man, Mohamed Diassana, put up a stat line of 18 points, 14 rebounds, and six blocks, while Jumamoy and Manansala provided 15 and 12 each off the bench in the loss.

The UST Growling Tigers will aim for their second consecutive win as they face the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Monday, May 27, at the same venue.