Forthsky Padrigao’s go-ahead basket with 29 seconds remaining clinched a thrilling 67-64 victory for the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers against the National University (NU) Bulldogs in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Padrigao’s crucial long-range shot, followed by a split free throw in the final second, propelled the Growling Tigers to sole possession of third place with a 3-1 win-loss record.
“Against NU, the boys were aggressive; the will to win was there. For us, a win is a win—whether by two points, three points, or one point. This was a total team effort; everyone contributed,” said UST head coach Pido Jarencio.
The win marked a strong comeback for the Growling Tigers after suffering a 27-point defeat to the Adamson Soaring Falcons in their previous outing.
UST rallied with an 8-0 run late in the game, taking a 60-59 lead following Padrigao’s layup with 2:37 left, setting the stage for his clutch heroics in the final moments.
