UST survives UE in intense battle, ousts Ateneo in semis race; FEU stays in Final Four hunt

The University of Santo Tomas survived the University of the East in an intense battle, 76-67, in UAAP Season 87 on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Growling Tigers boosted its Final Four chances as it improved to 6-7, while the Red Warriors were dragged to their third straight loss and slipped to 6-6.

UST led by as much as 27, 41-14, before UE mounted a rally in the fourth period after Precious Momowei was ejected from the game as an unsportsmanlike foul was called when he inadvertently hit the part near the right eye of Gelo Crisostomo which caused it to bleed. 

It was his second unsportsmanlike foul in the match with the first one at the 5:18 mark of the second period against Mo Tounkara whose nose also bled after it was inadvertently hit. 

Down 14, 69-55, past the halfway mark of the final frame, Jack Cruz-Dumonted ignited a 9-0 run, capped by his own triple, to trim the deficit to within five with 2:48 left. However, freebies from Nic Cabañero and Christian Manaytay salvaged the game for the España-based squad.

Cabañero had 27 points, while Crisostomo had 14 points for UST, while Cruz-Dumont scored 19 as Wello Lingolingo had 13 points for UE.

Earlier, Far Eastern University also solidified its bid for a Final Four spot as it defeated Ateneo de Manila University, 65-54.

Janrey Pasaol had 14 points, seven boards, six assists, and two steals, while Mo Konateh posted a double-double of 21 rebounds, 11 points, two blocks, and a steal as the Tamaraws improved to 5-8 for the fifth spot.

Ian Espinosa was the only double digit scorer for the Blue Eagles with 14 points.

With the UST win, Ateneo was eliminated from Final Four contention, ending the Katipunan-based squad's nine consecutive semis appearances.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News