Metro Manila, Philippines – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers gave the defending champions University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons a rude welcome in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament with an 87-67 home beating at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila on Sunday, September 21.
Collins Akowe, the first-ever UAAP Best Foreign Student-Athlete awardee in his final juniors year with National University in Season 87, dropped 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in his first seniors game for the Growling Tigers.
“It’s a great feeling, just taking advantage of our crowd. I just do what I got to do. I’m representing UST, I have to take it upon myself, they’ re taking care of me so this is the way I can pay them back,” Akowe said in a press conference after their victory.
UST’s blowout triumph snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Fighting Maroons, which captured two of the last four titles.
The Growling Tigers last won against UP in their Final Four meeting in 2019, when Renzo Subido’s three-pointer propelled the UST to the Season 82 finals.
Kyle Paranada, who started in the spot of suspended Forthsky Padrigao, also delivered a huge performance for the Growling Tigers with 18 points, 14 of which came in the first half.
Nic Cabañero added nine points, while Gelo Crisostomo contributed eight for the host school UST.
Mark Belmonte paced UP with 12 points, while Harold Alarcon tallied 11 points.
The Growling Tigers will next tackle the De La Salle University Green Archers on Sept. 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
