The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers leaned on Nicael Cabañero’s endgame exploits to defeat the San Beda University Red Lions, 57-52, in the Piña Cup Basketball Tournament on Monday night at the Ormoc City Superdome in Ormoc, Leyte.
The Cebuano guard/forward contributed six points during the Growling Tigers’ 12-7 finishing run as the Alfredo “Pido” Jarencio-led squad kicked off their campaign on a winning note.
With the score tied at 45-all, Cabañero broke the deadlock with an inside hit before he followed it up with two free throws and a basket from Hinda Tounkara for a 51-45 advantage.
The Red Lions responded with baskets from Anfernee Estacio and John Bryan Sajonia to make it a 49-52 score. Chase Lane answered with a basket to increase UST’s lead to 54-49, but San Beda’s Yukien Andrada drilled a triple to cut the deficit to 52-54.
Cabañero converted a layup for the Growling Tigers to increase their lead to 56-54 with 11 seconds left before Miguel Pangilinan sealed the victory for UST with a split free throw.
Meanwhile, the College of St. Benilde Blazers wasted a double-digit first-half lead before going on a huge fourth-quarter run to defeat the National University Bulldogs, 75-63.
Down 58-59 with five minutes left, the Blazers got a layup from Ian Torres, back-to-back triples from Matthew Oli and Anton Eusebio, and another layup from Torres for a 68-59 advantage.
The Bulldogs made their last run after a three-point conversion from Steve Nash Enriquez with over a minute left, but Jhomel Ancheta responded with a perimeter hit to seal the win for the Blazers.
The post Nicael Cabañero clutch as UST prevails over San Beda in Piña Cup opener first appeared on Fastbreak.
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