The UST Growling Tigers failed to snap their losing streak despite having the home-court advantage after kneeling to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 64-67, in a high-wire battle in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Nic Cabañero led UST’s scoring department, tallying 18 points and six rebounds, while Christian Manaytay, Forthsky Padrigao, and Leeland Estacio combined for 27 points in the losing effort.

Gelo Crisostomo stepped up for UST in terms of rebounding, posting 16 boards, but Mo Tounkara’s absence proved to be a huge loss for the Growling Tigers after falling short against the Katipunan-based squad.

UST’s 18 turnovers were one of their Achilles heels this game.

*“For us wala e, I mean, kelan lang ba kami naka-experience ng mga ganitong sitwasyon, sa La salle and sa Ateneo. Nakikita ko naman yung team namin na talagang nag effort and tinitignan nila kung ano yung dapat nilang matutunan each game and nag uusap naman kami lagi,” *Padrigao said.

The Blue Eagles started off hot, establishing a 7-0 run behind Jared Bahay and Chris Koon’s back-to-back buckets.

The Growling Tigers quickly pounced back to cut the lead to three, courtesy of Padrigao and Cabañero, 4-7.

Ateneo clawed back after unleashing a 0-10 rally behind the offensive firepower of Andrew Bongo, Shawn Tuano, and Ayodeji Balogun to end the opening quarter, 8-17.

The España-based squad regained composure in the second salvo after a 13-3 run, ignited by Kyle Paranada, Echo Laure, Estacio, and Padrigao, trimming down the lead to one, 20-21.

Ateneo quickly neutralized UST’s momentum after Ian Espinosa landed two long bombs coming into halftime, 33-25.

The Growling Tigers started the second half strong after an 11-4 run behind Cabañero’s eight points that helped secure a two-point lead against the Eagles, 39-37.

The Blue Eagles snatched the momentum out of UST’s hands late in the third canto to take a seven-point advantage, 48-41.

The final minutes of the game saw both teams locked in a battle of attrition as the Tigers and Eagles struggled to pull away for good.

UST found themselves in big trouble when they were down by two with 16.6 seconds remaining, 62-64.

The Blue Eagles’ tight defense forced UST to turn the ball over with Sean Quitevis stealing the ball for an easy lay-up, 62-66.

UST tried to force a play for overtime, but Manaytay failed to release the ball in time, 64-67.

Andrew Bongo top scored for Ateneo, pumping in 14 points and seven rebounds, while Espinosa, Koon, and Tuano combined for 31 points in the winning effort, respectively.

The Growling Tigers (4-6) will try to put an end to their losing streak as they face the FEU Tamaraws on Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Mall of Asia Arena.