Joshua Fontanilla brings the clutch hit for UST. – Photo courtesy of UAAP Media
From the wreckage of a nude program, the University of Santo Thomas (UST) has emerged with a team that flaunted the depth of talent and the respiratory system on their way to the UAAP finals, much less recognized.
And after the first day’s rate where they trailed by more than 29 points and came out of their league, these new Tigers are starting to give an accurate identity.
Joshua Fontanilla provided clutch shots when the UST called for enough endgame intelligence from its young squad to hold Adamson, 79-72, in the Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
Fontanilla scored five points in a row, including a crucial three-pointer that gave the Growling Tigers a 77-70 lead with 19.3 seconds and they had to go for their second consecutive win to improve to 2-2, leaving National University in fourth place.
The Bulldogs won “I wanted to help my team because I failed to make my presence felt in the first three quarters,” said St. Clair’s transfer guard, who scored 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.
NU’s second win came after a 73-68 win over the Far Eastern U before the Bulldogs reduced Tamaraus rookie RJ Abarrientos’ 33-point effort.
UST’s own rookie, Paul Manalang, made 15 points in 5-of-7 shooting from outside the arc, adding five assists and three rebounds as the young Tigers slowly began to feel relevant after losing their core.
During the government-imposed lockdown at the height of the Covid-19 epidemic, a poorly-consulted training camp at Sorsogon ripped apart UST’s main standouts, with captain CJ Cancino at the University of the Philippines, Marc Nয়nio la Salle and Range Abenito at Brente and Brente. Being.
This forced the UST, which was second from Atenio in 2019, to rebuild around boys like Fontanilla, Manalang, Brian Santos (nine points, eight rebounds against Adamson) and Nick Cabanero (eight points, two steals). It also leaves coach Ginino Manansala, who took over from suspended Aldin Ayo, begging for patience as he tries to reunite his predecessor’s “mayhem”, an anarchy-by-design system that often leaves enemies stunned and gasped.
Maroons, Eagle Victory
“These young players have shown that they can stretch and finish the game,” said Manansala, whose wards led against UP before losing steam in the second half. “They also lower our turnover than our previous games.”
Sherwin Concepcion, one of the previous team’s holdovers who has scored 25 points in the last two games, was limited to just seven points by shooting 1 of 8 from the deep. But his teammates got heated by crossing the arc by blocking 14 three-pointer nails in the game.
In another game, UP showed its restraint by banking on its fiery start and extending the University of the East to Route 81-66.
Javier Lucero led the Maroons with 14 points, including a 3:46 mark lay-up in the third quarter for a 65-35 lead. He also collected six rebounds, an assist and a block.
Highlights of the day are personal performances, however, belonging to the Aberientos. Too bad it came at a loss.
The Rookie Guard drilled eight three-pointers, tying Tamaro’s most points since 33 in Terrence Romeo’s Season 76 nine years ago.
“We are very disappointed. After what happened our team went down a lot. We are fighting and it is difficult to lose three matches in a row, “said Abriantos after the loss.
Abarrientos was stopped by NU’s air defense in the fourth quarter, where he scored just three points and his team scored just one field goal in the final five minutes of the game.
“Of course, they have strengthened their defenses against me. It was a big challenge for me and the team. NU has a deep bench that has struggled in our last quarter. We had a lot of struggles and mistakes, “he said.
John Lloyd played for Clement and Mike Malonjo for NU, after which they provided five straight points as the Bulldogs had a four-point deficit with a 71-66 lead with 38 seconds left in the game.
In the last game, Atenio La Salle, 74-57, 4-0 unbeaten (win-lose) –With a report from Lance Agcaoili
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