UST boosts UAAP Final Four chances after crushing UE

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers kept their UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament Final Four chances alive after dominating the University of the East Red Warriors, 97-70, on Nov. 11, 2026, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

With the much-needed win, the Growling Tigers moved a win away from tying the FEU Tamaraws and the DLSU Green Archers, who are tied for third and fourth places with identical 6-5 records.

Depending on the other schools’ results, UST’s final elimination game against the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Nov. 25 could create a chaotic scenario involving UST, Adamson, DLSU, Ateneo and FEU, none of which is guaranteed a Final Four spot.

A quick opening blitz kicked off the UAAP action as UST built a 19-point lead in the first quarter.

After a close 12-9 start, the Growling Tigers sent an early message by exploiting UE’s loose perimeter defense, scoring 35 first-quarter points to set the tone.

The Red Warriors matched UST’s high-octane tempo in the second quarter, but their offensive resurgence wasn’t enough to slow down the Growling Tigers, who still held a 17-point cushion at halftime.

All hell broke loose midway through the third quarter when the trio of Amiel Acido, Peter Osang and Landyn Jumawan spearheaded a massive 18-6 run that gave UST its largest lead at 31 points.

Hampered by cold shooting and several defensive lapses, UE threw in the white towel with eight minutes remaining in regulation, fielding an all-second-unit five-man rotation to wrap up the game.

Osang, UST’s backup foreign student-athlete, became the biggest revelation after delivering an outstanding performance in his first official UAAP Season 89 game.

The 6-foot-7 Nigerian frontcourt player contributed an all-around performance of 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, alongside 10 rebounds, five blocks and two assists.

Backing up Osang was the ever-reliable Acido, who capped the win with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Jumawan added 16 points and five rebounds.

Pacing UE in the loss was superstar Toper Lagat, who led the Red Warriors with 22 points, three assists and three rebounds.