UAAP: UST looks to ride momentum as Crisostomo is set for a comeback

MANILA — The UST Growling Tigers look to pick up where they left off in the second round, especially with one of their key players set to make his return.

The Tigers ended the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament first round on a high note with an 80-68 win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday.

Before that, the Tiger Cubs and the Growling Tigresses also won their assignments to complete the homecourt sweep in España.

More than just playing for the UST community, assistant coach Japs Cuan said the team showed its desire to win with a new player stepping up in every game.

“What’s special about this group is ‘yung togetherness nila. We had two games, ‘yung from Adamson loss na blowout and then a heartbreak loss against NU. Usually teams fold na ‘pag ganoon eh, but nakita ko sa kanila na they really want to win, they really want to prove, and then they stick together lang with each other,” he said during the post-game press conference.

As UST ends the first round with back-to-back wins, the team is eager to ride on this momentum, especially with Gelo Crisostomo set to return.

Crisostomo has not played since the Tigers scored an 80-75 win over the DLSU Green Archers last September 16.

“We just stick to the system and we stay ready lang kasi on a given game, minsan malas ‘yung isa, but ang maganda lang sa team namin, someone is stepping up. So ang maganda lang din ‘yung leadership ng dalawa na kasama ko today,” Cuan said.

While Crisostomo has been recovering from an injury, Amiel Acido and Mark Llemit have been holding down the fort for the Tigers.

Acido and Llemit produced 15 points apiece in their victory over Ateneo, which pushed UST to a 4-3 record.

The two believe Crisostomo’s return will give the Tigers more teeth and will make them a bigger threat in the second round.

“Wala naman magbabago, we will give 100% pa rin every game. We will stay focused and prepared sa mga upcoming games po namin,” Acido said.

“Ganoon din ‘yung gagawin namin, and ‘yun, kailangan din namin mag-sumikap lalo na sa training kasi pagdating ng second round, ibang usapan na ‘yun, so maging prepared lang din kami,” Llemit added.