MANILA, Philippines -- University of Santo Tomas snapped a three-game losing skid after squeaking past Far Eastern University, 86-85, Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Growling Tigers roared back into the win column and pumped life back into their Final Four hopes.
Amiel Acido top-scored for UST with 23 points, including clutch 3-pointers that kept FEU at bay. He also had three rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Landyn Jumawan added 18 markers, three boards and two dimes, while Mark Llemit produced 16 points, seven rebounds and a steal.
The game was close through the fourth quarter, with a split from the line by Cabs Cabonilas tying things up at 73-all with 8:03 left.
A trey by Acido, followed by a layup by Collins Akowe, pushed UST ahead, 78-73, with 7:15 left.
FEU tried to inch closer, slicing the deficit to one, 79-80, after a layup by Cabonilas.
But a trey by Acido with 1:47 to go gave the Tigers a 83-79 cushion, which was answered by a triple by Cabonilas to make it a one-point game again.
But on the other end, Acido connected on another 3-pointer that turned out to be the dagger, 86-82, with 1:12 remaining.
Both teams could not connect as the clock melted, before Jorick Bautista’s last-second 3-pointer set the final score.
Kirk Canete tallied nine points, two rebounds and two assists for the Tigers. Akowe finished with eight points, 12 rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Bautista poured in 27 points, four assists, two rebounds and a steal in the defeat. Cabonilas and Kirby Mongcopa chipped in 14 markers.
UST rose to 5-6 in the standings, good for joint-fifth with Ateneo.
FEU dropped to 6-5, and is also tied with La Salle.