UST’s Nic Cabañero during a game against FEU in UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–At this point of the tournament, it was less important that University of Santo Tomas snapped out of a three-game slide.
What’s important was that the Tigers, on Sunday, put a semblance of distance between themselves and the chase pack for a Final Four spot.
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“Right now, we are thinking that our last four games are all do-or-die games,” UST coach Pido Jarencio said after a 79-70 victory over Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: UAAP: Forthsky Padrigao rues UST home loss to Ateneo
UST coach Pido Jarencio after regaining their winning ways. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/J4i8G7hzQ1
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 27, 2024
For now, death will have to wait outside the door.
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The Tigers won their fifth game in 11 outings to stay a game and a half up on three teams tied at 3-7 (win-loss): The Tamaraws, Ateneo and Adamson.
UST’s hold on that fourth spot—behind defending champion La Salle, University of the Philippines and University of the East—looked tenuous at best after a three-game slide put a massive dent on a strong start to the season.
“We had a three-game losing streak, so everybody had to work,” Jarencio said.
While the slide was alarming, UST did not lose sight of what the goal is.
READ: UAAP: UST’s Mo Tounkara suspended vs Ateneo
“In the locker room, we always say that we’re aiming for the Final Four. When out coaches say that, we always get motivated,“ said senior Nic Cabañero, who joined hands with Kyle Panarada to help the Tigers fight off a strong performance by the Tamaraws’ Veejay Pre.
The 19-year-old rookie was a thorn all night to UST’s side, finishing with a career-best 31 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field and grabbing 14 rebounds.
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Cabañero finished with 16 points, eight in the last quarter while Panarada dropped all 13 points in the second half.
“Panarada had a breakout game,” Jarencio said.