Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Ed Daquioag played as though UST Growling Tigers’ fate hinged on him alone against the UE Red Warriors on Wednesday (October 7).
Daquioag was at the forefront of the team’s offense, frolicking with 34 points in the Tigers’ 83-76 win over the Warriors in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The spitfire guard, who also collared four rebounds with six assists, dropped 21 points in the second half to keep the Warriors at bay the rest of the way.
He also made the crucial baskets inside the final four minutes, the last of which was an acrobatic layup off a spin move that gave UST a 76-71 spread with 43 ticks to go.
Such display of offensive repertoire from him didn’t come as a surprise for UST head coach Bong dela Cruz.
“Hindi na ako nagtataka sa performance ni Ed. Natural na iyan,” said Dela Cruz moments after their conquest of UE.
Thanks to Daquioag’s sterling performance, the Tigers wrapped up the first round of hostilities atop the heap with a 6-1 win-loss record.
A win by National University (3-3) against Far Eastern University (5-1) will allow UST to clinch solo leadership heading into the second round. Both teams are duking it out as of posting time.
At the onset, Daquioag connived with fellow UST skipper Kevin Ferrer, who finished with 14 points, to give the team a scintillating 26-12 start.
The lead even ballooned to 39-23 in the second quarter before a third quarter blitzkrieg by the Warriors turned the game into a nip-and-tuck contest.
UE outscored UST in the penultimate period, 23-16.
But Daquioag took matters into his own hands from there, scoring 12 points in the payoff period to power the team to the rousing victory.
