By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

COMPLETED a sweep of the step-ladder semifinals and barged into the finals of UAAP Season 82 just last Wednesday, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers shift their focus on the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles and their finals joust which starts on Saturday.

Back in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines finals after four years, the Tigers are grateful for the opportunity to return to the summit in UAAP men’s basketball but recognize that it would not be easy against a steady Ateneo squad and given a short turnaround at the onset.

“Of course we are grateful that we reached this far but this is not our main goal. We have not achieved anything yet. We celebrate now a little but we have to refocus and prepare for our next game,” said UST coach Aldin Ayo at the postmatch press conference following their defeat of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Wednesday that earned for them the finals spot.

“To be honest we were too focused on UP that we haven’t thought about Ateneo so right now we’re going to focus our attention on Ateneo and we have to do it in 48 hours, two days only,” added the UST coach as he highlighted the immediate challenge that they face in their return to the finals.

In notching a spot in the UAAP Big Dance, the Tigers had to dig deep, turning to the late-game heroics of veteran guard Renzo Subido to outlast the Maroons, 68-65.

Down by two points, 65-63, Subido was able to shoot past UP big man Bright Akhuetie from beyond the arc and connected to give his team the lead, 66-65, with 23 seconds remaining.

UP had a chance to recover from it but could not complete it.

Season most valuable player Soulemane Chabi Yo was fouled with four seconds remaining and made his free throws to make it a three-point lead for the Tigers, 68-65.

The Maroons called for timeout after to set up a game-tying play.

The ball went to James Spencer but his three-point heave did not connect as time expired, handing the victory to the Tigers and sending the UST faithful, part of the 18,548 crowd, into celebration.

Chabi Yo topscored for UST with 22 points to go along with 16 rebounds with rookies Mark Nonoy and Rhenz Abando adding 12 and 11 points, respectively.

The win completed a sweep of the step-ladder semifinals by the fourth-seeded Tigers, who overcame the twice-to-beat advantage of second-seeded UP and earlier defeated third seeds Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

The momentum from it is something they hope to carry in trying to overcome Ateneo, undefeated still in Season 82.

In the first round, the Eagles defeated the Tigers, 71-70, and doubled up on the latter in the second round, 66-52.

Ateneo is looking for a third straight UAAP title, and 11th overall, while UST is shooting for number 19 that would push it to solo second in UAAP history behind FEU (20).

Game One of the best-of-three UAAP Finals is set for 4 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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