Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. – Adamson vs FEU
4 p.m. – Ateneo vs NU
Subido’s three-point barrage gave the Growling Tigers, who trailed 22-9 at the start, a 78-66 lead before the he and the rest of the crew scuttled the Red Warriors’ comeback attempt to hand Boy Sablan his first win as coach.
“Alam ko puputok yan,” Sablan said of Subido, the former La Salle Zobel standout who is now in his third year at España. “Nakita ko na yan sa practice at sa actual game, tamang timing lang at nagawa niya ngayon.”
Veteran playmaker Jon Sheriff added 15 points, four rebounds and four assists, Marvin Lee had 14 points and Jan Macasaet made eight points and 10 rebounds as UST won despite committing 21 of its 31 turnovers in the first half that saw UE grabbing a big lead after tipoff.
Nick Abanto scored 15 points while Bonbon Batiller added 15 points and 11 rebounds but UE dropped to 0-2 in another disappointing loss.
UE nearly benefited from the Big Dome scoreboard that went bonkers with over 3:39 to play and UST up 86-77.
The Red Warriors scored eight straight points to cut the Tigers’ lead, but Renz Palma made just one-of-two foul shots with 42.2 seconds left that would have tied the game at 86-all.
Meanwhile, defending champion Far Eastern University aims to bounce back from losing to La Salle when it plays opening day winner Adamson today at the same venue.
The Tamaraws, who fell 83-78 to the Green Archers last Wednesday, shoot for their first win at 2 p.m. against a Falcons team that made an impression with a 104-85 mauling of the University of the Philippines Maroons exactly a week ago.
Going for a second win are Ateneo and National University, which lock horns in the other match set at 4 p.m.
The Blue Eagles opened their campaign with a 73-69 victory over the Growling Tigers while the Bulldogs downed the Red Warriors, 72-66, on Wednesday.
The scores:
UST 88 – Subido 26, Sheriff 15, Lee 14, Vigil 10, Macasaet 8, Basibas 4, Faundo 4, Lao 3, Bonleon 2, De Guzman 2, Afoakwah 0, Huang 0.
UE 87 – Abanto 15, Batiller 15, Olayon 14, Palma 10, Pasaol 8, Bartolome 6, De Leon 4, Charcos 4, Manalang 4, Varilla 3, Armenion 2, Gagate 2, Derige 2, Larupay 0, Penuela 0.
Quarters: 16-24; 39-47; 69-64; 88-87.