Tigers, Forthsky foil Eagles homecoming with 3OT win
The night should have ended with a homecoming party.
The University of Santo Tomas Tigers had other plans in mind.
With the UAAP returning at the newly renovated Blue Eagle Gym for its first men’s doubleheader there in two decades, UST and Ateneo dragged the game—and each other—through 55 breathless minutes before the Growling Tigers finally broke free, 98-89, in the tournament’s first triple-overtime game of the Final Four era.
In the middle of it all was a guard who used to know every groove of the floor.
Had this game been played about three years ago, Forthsky Padrigao would be fueling Ateneo to the finish line. But things change. Now in gold, he gave his former alma mater a heartbreak, drilling the three that sent the game to its first extra period and finishing with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal.
“All we needed to do was show our heart and grit and it paid off in the end,” said the graduating guard, who showed no ill feelings for the school that birthed his collegiate career.
“Our respects are with Ateneo because they battled us for three overtimes,” he said.
UST had little time for nostalgia. The Tigers were busy putting points up the scoreboard.
Nic Cabañero set the pace with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Collins Akowe turned in a marathon 51:03 with 20 points, 19 boards, three steals and three blocks. Gelo Crisostomo delivered a career line—18 and 17—adding the timely makes that kept UST upright through the first two OTs.
“Triple overtime, throw away the numbers. It was all heart for both teams. Both teams were going down already because of fatigue and cramps, but we fought all the way. No one wanted to go out. So it boiled down to that last quarter, and between the two, we made more shots,” said UST assistant coach Juno Sauler.
By the third OT, it was all about who had enough gas—and attrition—left. Ateneo fought with a depleted group—Divine Adili had fouled out, Kymani Ladi was cramping and Jared Bahay, who later finished with 17, couldn’t return after a shoulder knock.
UST pounced as Akowe struck first, Cabañero’s and-one also sent Dominic Escobar to the bench, Mark Llemit knifed for a layup and another Akowe finish made it 94–85 with 2:17 left.
From there, the Tigers managed the clock and the crowd.
Ateneo’s effort ran on tired legs and the numbers showed: 33-of-118 from the field (28.0 percent) against UST’s 34-of-96 (35.4). Ladi added 14 and nine but shot 4-of-21; Escobar had 13, 20 rebounds and five steals; Shawn Tuano chipped in 12; Adili logged 10 and 17 before fouling out with 2:54 in the second OT.
It was a sorry finish for Bahay, who shook off a 1-of-11 regulation to hit big shots in overtime in front of wildly cheering home fans. —WITH A REPORT FROM ROMMEL FUERTES JR.
