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Jul 26

Growling Tigers tame Bulldogs for 3rd straight win

by Josef Ramos
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THERE’S no need to revive “the dead horse.�?

University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers will not ask the board againfor Jojo Duncil’s return, as it smothered the National University Bulldogs, 83-72, for their third consecutive win Thursday in the 70th UAAP men’s basketball at the Araneta Coliseum.

“I’m surprised they played with high intensity,�? said UST coach Pido Jarencio. “I don’t know where my players got their energy.�?

The Growling Tigers took a 13-8 lead in first period after a Chester Taylor put back, 13-8. But the Bulldogs kept coming back to tie the game at 23-all before halftime with Jewel Ponferrada hitting the needed baskets.

The Growling Tigers unleashed a 10-2 run, capped by a Cortez three-pointer and fast break lay-up for a 33-25 bubble with 1:16 minutes left in the second quarter.

Despite keeping the edge for most of the game, the Bulldogs couldn’t put by the Growling Tigers away as Jonathan Fernandez remained scorching from downtown. NU was just down by three, 57-54, at the close of third quarter.

NU tied the count for the last time at 59-all early in the fourth quarter but could not sustain their run after UST countered a 10-2 attack – highlighted by a trey from Khasim Mirza and Dylan Ababou – to increase the lead to 69-61 with 6:13 minutes left. The Growling Tigers then took control of the ball game the rest of the way.

Dylan Ababou led the Tigers with 18 points, while Japs Cuan had a spectacular 12 points along with eight boards and seven assists. Anthony Espiritu and Jun Cortez had ten points each.

Jonathan Fernandez was nearly a one-man show with 27 points and six rebounds. Raymond Aguilar and Edwin Asoro had ten points apiece.

Individual scores:

UST 83 — Ababou 18, Cuan 12, Espiritu 10, Cortez 10, Mirza 9, Canlas 9, Taylor 9, Cruz 6, Allera 2, Gile 0, Dizon 0.

NU 72 — Fernandez 27, Aguilar 10, Asoro 10, Lingao-Lingao 8, Ponferrada 7, Jahnke 4, Garcia 2, Salvado 2, Catamora 2, Terso 0, Baloran 0, Luy 0, Malagueño 0,

Quarter scores: 18-13, 34-31, 57-54, 83-72