UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas repeated over Far Eastern University, 57-53, to wrap up its trying season on a high note in a duel of last-placed squads the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With only two wins to show, all against the Tamaraws, coach Pido Jarencio, who steered the Growling Tigers to a 18th and most recent championship in 2006, had no excuses for this year’s debacle in his return to España after 10 years.

“Disappointing season for us. Dalawa lang yung pinanalo. I take full responsibility. I disappointed the UST community, humihingi ako ng pasensya sa kanila but for sure we’ll be better next year,” said Jarencio.

Christian Manaytay, who led the way for the Growling Tigers with 12 points and nine rebounds was happy to pay back Jarencio with a victory to finish their campaign.

“Sabi ko lang, deserve ni coach Pido itong panalo pati ng organization namin kasi we had a very rough season ngayon so we’re trying to find a way to win and syempre sinwerte kami na nanalo kami ngayon,” said Manaytay.

UST’s build-up for the next UAAP wars begins immediately with an off-season tournament, as everyone in the current roster has to earn their spots, with a slew of talent players who completed their one-year residency are waiting in the wings.

“Wednesday, start na kami. Alam nila iyon. Kasi may sinalihan kaming liga, PinoyLiga,” said Jarencio.

The Growling Tigers, who last reached the Final Four in 2019 where they went all the way to the Finals, are determined to contend again against the league’s finest.

“After this season is you have a have at least 16 players ready to play. Hindi puwede lima, anim, pito. Kailangang malalim ka rito sa UAAP,” said Jarencio.

UST still has something to look forward in basketball, as it women’s team booked the remaining twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four after easily dispatching Ateneo, 80-68.

The Tigresses matched last season’s 11-3 elims record, while sending the Blue Eagles to their second consecutive defeat and settle for a 8-6 card in fourth place.

Now that the elimination round is over, UST is now focusing on its Final Four matchup against University of the Philippines on Wednesday.

The Fighting Maroons dropped to third place at 10-4 after losing to eight-peat seeking National University, 59-81.

“We’ll prepare for UP,” said Tigresses coach Haydee Ong. “We’ll go back to the drawing board and prepare for UP.”

Nikki Villasin came through with a career-high 20 points, two steals, two assists and two rebounds while Eka Soriano, facilitating UST’s offense so well, had a double-double effort of 14 points and 11 assists.

The top-ranked Bulldogs avenged their first-round loss to the Fighting Maroons, 69-72, last October 8, to wrap up the eliminations with 11 straight wins.

“We talked about momentum and that was really the goal today for our team, to have some momentum going towards the Final Four and I thought the players and coaches were locked in on what we’re trying to do today,” said coach Aris Dimaunahan, as NU will play Ateneo for the second straight season on Wednesday.

Maymay Canuto tallied 16 points and six rebounds, Jainaba Konateh, the 19-year-old Gambian center, finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Ann Pingol and Aloha Betanio produced 11 and 10 points, respectively for the Lady Bulldogs. Camille Clarin displayed her vision with nine assists to go with eight points.

Migs Pangilinan logged 10 points, five boards and three assists for the Growling Tigers as Nic Cabañero struggled with 10 points on a 2-of-10 shooting from the field.

FEU, the most successful program in the league which will miss the Final Four for a second season in a row, wound up at 3-11 in seventh place in coach Denok Miranda’s first year at the helm. The Tamaraws’ two victories came against the Blue Eagles.

Jorick Bautista had 17 points and four rebounds while James Tempra added 10 points and six boards in his final game for FEU.

LJay Gonzales, the graduating guard who scored the buzzer-beating triple in a second round win against Ateneo, scored only four points.

The scores:

UST (57) – Manaytay 12, Pangilinan 10, Cabañero 8, Calum 7, Ventulan 7, Laure 6, Gesalem 3, Manalang 2, Lazarte 2, Llemit 0, Duremdes 0, Crisostomo 0.
FEU (53) – Bautista 17, Tempra 10, Ona 8, Faty 5, Gonzales 4, Torres 4, Competente 3, Sleat 2, Bagunu 0, Beato 0, Buenaventura 0, Montemayor 0, Felipe 0.
Quarterscores: 18-9, 32-24, 47-37, 57-53