MANILA, Philippines -- The UST Growling Tigers got back on track but not without a scare from the UP Fighting Maroons in eking out an 83-76 win Sunday in the UAAP Season 78 men's basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tigers drew big games from Kevin Ferrer, Louie Vigil and Ed Daquioag to throw off the pesky Maroons, who came down fighting.
Ferrer exploded for 29 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Vigil and Daquioag added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the Tigers who stayed at second spot with their ninth win in 11 games.
UP waged a last-ditch rally in the fourth quarter to come within three, 68-71, after entering the payoff peiod trailing by 10. But Ferrer, Kent Lao and Dauioag put the finishing touches that put them on track of clinching the second Final Four seat behind the league-leading FEU Tamaraws (9-1).
Jett Manuel's career-high 21 points went down the drain as the UP Fighting Maroons absorbed their seventh setback against three wins.