Displaying fluid ball movement and precision passing early in the game, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers held off the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 81-71, yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Growling Tigers worked hard to keep a double-digit advantage in the last five minutes and their efforts paid off as they went on to reach the next phase of the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men's basketball stepladder semifinals.
A zone defense in the final period worked wonders on UST's game as the Tigers held FEU to just nine points in the initial five minutes of the quarter.
Season MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo tallied a game-high 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Growling Tigers, who will now face the twice-to-beat and second seeded University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons this Sunday.
Brent Paraiso struck with 18 points for the Growling Tigers, who remained strong contenders to make to the finals, considering that they have beaten the Fighting Maroons twice during the eliminations.
“Nothing comes easy. That has always been our season. Walang madali. Right from the start ng game namin, talagang mahirap,” said UST coach Aldin Ayo.
Despite losing one of their main men in Ira Bataller at the start of the third to five fouls, UST fought to keep a double-digit edge in the last 4:22 off Mark Nonoy's split charity.
They held off six attempts from FEU, before UST stayed up by 13, off Subido's trey, 78-65, with 1:28.
By the time FEU found its range, time ran out on them.
The Growling Tigers, with Renzo Subido firing 14 points, built a big lead early, and held onto a 20-10 edge on triples from Paraiso and Subido.
Ken Tuffin drilled in 20 points for the Tams, who lost one of their big men in Barkley Ebona to a disqualifying foul in the remaining 1:19.
Ebona committed a hard foul on Chabi Yo, who sank two charities with 1:12 left, and handed UST a 21-point spread, 49-27.
The Growling Tigers went on to claim a 26-point lead, off Nonoy's drive at the end of the third, 54-28.
UST, which is back in the semis after five years, thrived on their three-point shooting in the first half, making nine of 22 attempts, with Paraiso knocking in four of his five triples in the first 20 minutes of the game.