The Warriors held the Tigers to just a field goal in the final four minutes of the contest while scoring on their offensive plays en route to notching their third win in four games for a share of the lead with the idle Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Far Eastern U Tams.
Defending champion La Salle went to the free throw lane when it failed to buy a basket to repulse University of the Philippines, 85-82, and forge a four-way tie for the lead at 3-1. UP slipped to 1-3.
UE underscored its tough defensive stance by shackling the fancied duo of Frederick Hubalde and Emerson Oreta from the three-point area. The Tigers did connect five out of 22 tries but nothing came from either Hubalde or Oreta, who combined for 18 triples the last time out.
"We just applied what coach Boyzie (Zamar) instructed us, that is to stop their shooters particularly Hubalde and Oreta from scoring in the three-point area," said D’Jalma Arneda, who took over from Zamar, who coached Socsargen in the MBA yesterday.
Ronald Tubid fired a total of four triples to finish with a game-high 16 points as the Warriors dealt the Tigers their third loss in four games for their worst start since 1989 when it fell to a 0-4 start.
With Tubid hitting the triples, the Warriors took a commanding 43-25 lead early in the third quarter to fashion out their most impressive start in six years.
Twice did the Tigers unleashed a furious comeback but twice did the Warriors foil them, the last in the homestretch when they threw a defensive blanket on top UST gunners.