UAAP: Tigers find touch, torch Tamaraws to halt skid

MANILA (UPDATED) — University of Santo Tomas found its touch in the second half to turn back Far Eastern University, 81-69, in UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

The Growling Tigers torched the Tamaraws behind a dominant third-quarter surge to snap their two-game skid and notch their third win in six games, with Mark Llemit leading the way.

“‘Di lang kami nagpadala, kasi kailangan naming bumawi,” said the veteran wingman, who tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists for UST, which closed the contest with a decisive 12-to-nothing run.

Also delivering was rookie Andrew Chio, who fired 14 points on three triples, while Collins Akowe had 14 points, 19 rebounds, and four assists, and Amiel Acido added 12 points for UST, which avoided squandering its double-digit lead in the fourth canto.

It was the Tigers’ eruption in the third quarter, however, that paved the way for their 15-point comeback victory.

Down by 13 at halftime, UST unleashed a 19-to-5 charge in the first five minutes of the second half, with Chio, Landyn Jumawan, and Koji Buenaflor each connecting from beyond the arc to fuel the run.

The Tigers eventually led by as many as 10 points before the Tamaraws clawed their way back and even tied the contest at 69-all following a rare three-pointer from Mo Konateh with just two minutes remaining, but UST ultimately pulled away behind the efforts of Llemit, Acido, and Akowe.

Konateh led the Tamaraws with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks, while Jorick Bautista added 14 points on four three-pointers, but their efforts went for naught as FEU absorbed its second loss in six games and saw its four-game winning streak come to an end.

The Scores:

UST 81 — Llemit 18, Akowe 14, Chio 14, Acido 12, Jumawan 8, Cañete 7, Buenaflor 6, Porter 2, Danting 0, Esteban 0.

FEU 69 — Konateh 18, Bautista 14, Mongcopa 12, Felipe 9, Pasaol 6, Daa 4, Cabonillas 3, Nakai 3, Gish 0, Burgos 0.

Quarterscores: 12-20, 28-41, 57-50, 81-69.