Triple thriller

Games today:

(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)

1:30 p.m. — La Salle vs NU

4:30 p.m. — UP vs FEU

University of Santo Tomas (UST) defeated Ateneo de Manila University right on its home turf in a draining 98-89 triple overtime victory in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the Blue Eagle gym.

The Tigers had more gas left in the tank in the third extension, blasting nine straight points for a 94-85 advantage in the last 2:17.

Kyle Paranada nailed the dagger trey for a 97-87 count with just 1:37 left to secure UST’s fourth win in five starts for a share of the lead with idle National University.

Nic Cabanero led three other Tigers in double figures with 22 points while grabbing 11 rebounds. Forthsky Padrigao added 20 points, Nigerian center Collins Akowe submitted 20 points and 19 rebounds with three steals, three blocks and an assist while Gelo Crisostomo got 18 points and 17 boards as UST got its revenge over the Blue Eagles, who defeated the Tigers on their homecourt at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion last year.

Both teams had their chance to finish the game in regulation after Padrigao knotted the score at 66 with 40.2 seconds left. However, turnovers from both sides of the court and missed shots from Ateneo’s big men, Divine Adili and Kymani Ladi, forced the first overtime.

UST went up 74-72 with over a minute left in the extension off a Crisostomo putback, but Shawn Tuano answered with a basket with 19.8 ticks. Nick Cabanero missed on a wild shot in a UST possession and Collins Akowe blocked Ladi’s attempt on the other end that pushed the game to a second overtime.

A trey by Jared Bahay followed by a Joshua Lazaro basket gave the Blue Eagles an 85-84 advantage with 40.2 seconds left in the second extension. Akowe tied it at 85 off a split from the foul line for the last count in the second overtime.

Ateneo started out smoking as it built a 24-12 advantage with 2:52 left in the opening quarter off an Ian Espinosa basket but UST was quick to recover to turn the first UAAP men’s basketball match in the Katipunan venue in 20 years a memorable one.