SOULEMANE Chabi Yo paces UST past FEU. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

University of Santo Tomas (UST) weathered the uprising of Far Eastern University (FEU) and held on for an 81-71 in their highly physical do-or-die step-ladder encounter in Season 82 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Renz Subido and Soulemane Chabi Yo came up with timely baskets for the Growling Tigers when the Tamaraws sliced their 26-point lead to just five, 65-70, with 6:39 remaining and held on for the win to meet the twice-to-beat University of the Philippines (UP) in the second phase of step-ladder semifinals on Sunday.

“Nothing comes easy, really. We thought this game would be easy but it’s FEU so it will be not easy,” said UST head coach Aldin Ayo, whose wards swept the Fighting Maroons in the elimination round.

“At the very start of this season, that was what we are experiencing. Every game did not come to us handy, including this one.”

Chabi Yo, the soon-to-be-named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Season 82, delivered an MVP-type performance with 25 points and 11 rebounds while Brent Paraiso added 18 markers and was responsible for UST’s fiery start to set the tone for the España-based squad.

Subido chipped in 14 markers, but none bigger than his basket that ended the Growling Tigers’ scoring drought after FEU threatened at 65-70.

That jumper started a decisive 8-0 run capped with a three-pointer to restore order for the Growling Tigers, 78-65, with 1:28 remaining.

“Today is a do-or-die game and we just tried to play good defense and follow the system of coach Aldin. We tried to finish stronger,” Chabi Yo said.

With Paraiso catching fire, UST quickly dictated the tempo and took a 54-28 advantage entering the break.

But the pesky Tamaraws won’t quit early as Kenneth Tuffin, Wendell Comboy and LJ Gonzales joined forces and put the Morayta-based team within five, 65-70, with still over six minutes remaining in the game.

The Growling Tigers showed their composure behind the graduating Subido and the versatile Chabi Yo to squash the rally of FEU and move to the next stage of the step-ladder round.

Tuffin led the Tamaraws with 20 points, Gonzales chipped in 11 markers and nine assists, while Hubert Cani, who played his last game in the UAAP, netted 10.

FEU head coach Olsen Racela lost his big man Barkley Eboña, who was ejected after committing two flagrant fouls, the last on Chabi Yo.