University of Santo Tomas‘ Nic Cabañero. Photo from UAAP Images.

MANILA (UPDATED) — University of Santo Tomas escaped University of the East as the battle for the last two spots of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball Final Four tightens.

The Growling Tigers moved up to 6-7 after they survived the Red Warriors, 76-67, in their Saturday evening faceoff at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Nic Cabañero was the star for the España-based team, putting up a season-high 27 points together with eight rebounds and an assist.

"Yung mga players, hindi bumigay until the end," said Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio after the game. "Naging consistent kami. Syempre, meron ding masasabi mong run [yung UE], pero kami naman, we're focused, especially na yung last two games namin para makapag-dictate kung makakapasok kami sa Final Four." 

"This game is important kaya yung mga players, nakita mo yung aggressiveness, yung desire tsaka nagkaroon ng pride sa game," he added.

The Growling Tigers indeed showed resilience despite almost faltering a 27-point lead.

After holding a 41-14 advantage in the second frame, UST saw their lead slowly disappear as the Recto-based team stormed back and were able to get as close as five, 69-64, following a five-point spurt by Jack Cruz-Dumont who hit a deuce and a crucial triple with still 2:48 left in the game.

Fortunately for Jarencio's squad, Cabañero came to the rescue and completed an and-one a few seconds later to bring the Tigers' lead back to eight, 72-64.

This was eventually all the Growling Tigers needed to return to the win column and take better hold of the No.4 four spot, and Coach Pido that what aided in fixing their slump in the second round was a team meeting wherein they addressed all of what UST needed to fix. 

"Ang sikreto doon ay nagkaroon kami ng open forum with the coaches and players," said the outspoken mentor.  "Nag-voice out yung players, nag-voice out din kaming coaches kung ano yung direksyon na gusto namin. Naging positive yun, kaya naging ganito ka-aggressive [yung players], tapos yung desire nandoon, yung effort nandoon sa mga players."

Still ahead of them, however, are the Red Warriors who are at No.3 with a 6-6 record. But despite their record, UE is still in the midst of a skid in the second round as they have their last three games, and four of their previous five.  

Aside from this, UE's Momowei is also expected to serve a one-game suspension after he had two unsportsmanlike fouls against UST.

The first was due to his elbow on Mo Tounkara in the second quarter, while the second was, again, his elbow to Gelo Crisostomo at the 5:13 mark of the fourth.

Momowei was ejected out of the game. 

Jarencio acknowledged that this might be a result of the heightened physicality especially since teams are now fighting for the remaining two spots in the Final Four.

"'Di naman nila iniintindi yun. Matitigas mukha nyang mga yan kaya okay lang," he quipped. "Kasi mga probinsyano yan eh. 'Di naman galing sa mayayamang pamilya yan. Kaya kahit saktan mo mga mukha nyang mga yan, makikipagpalitan ng mukha yan. Wala na raw magbabago."

"Basta yung team namin naka-focus. Alam naman nilang mangyayari yan kasi this is the 2nd round. Magiiba ang laro, magiiba ang tema. Lahat gustong umakyat, gustong pumasok sa Final Four. Basta sabi ko sa kanila, tumanggap lang tayo ng tumanggap. Ang importante, we play fair. Wala tayong masasaktan. We're going to play physical but not rough," he added.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University is officially out of playoff contention after the Tigers's win. The Blue Eagles were toppled by Far Eastern University earlier, 65-54, and fell to 3-9.

READ: Pasaol, Konateh lead the way as FEU dims Ateneo's Final 4 hopes

THE SCORES:

UST 76 – Cabanero 27, Crisostomo 14, Manaytay 10, Padrigao 7, Tounkara 7, Danting 5, Paranada 3, Pangilinan 2, Llemit 1, Estacio 0, Acido 0.

UE 67 – J. Cruz-Dumont 19, Lingolingo 13, Fikes 12, Maga 9, Momowei 6, Wilson 3, Spandonis 3, Malaga 2, Abate 0, Galang 0, Mulingtapang 0, H. Cruz-Dumont 0.

Quarterscores: 22-11, 48-28, 60-45, 76-67.