The University of Santo Tomas (UST) knocked National University (NU) out of ‘Final Four’ contention in the 82nd UAAP men’s basketball season following an 88-76 win over the weekend at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Soulemane Chabi Yo tallied a double-double for UST with 16 points and 14 rebounds, Crispin John Cansino added a season-best 15 markers, Henri Lorenzo Subido – 14, and Mark Nonoy – 12.
Trailing 18-17 after the first 10 minutes, UST created distance in the second period on baskets from Chabi Yo, Cansino, and Nonoy.
At the half, UST took a 38-30 advantage.
Rhenz Abando and Nonoy led the UST offense in the third period and pushed their lead to 58-35. However, NU responded and narrowed the gap to 65-56.
By the final quarter, inside baskets from Cansino and Chabi Yo, along with consecutive outside shots from Subido, brought their lead to 86-66.
“We played well,” said head coach Aldin Ayo. “We were able to execute our game plan.”
“They just played basketball, they were having fun, they enjoyed the game,” he added.  “We know they were doing that na may kasamang responsibility (We know they were doing that with responsility).”
In other results, Far Eastern University decimated De La Salle University with an 81-60 win./ASC, WDJ