Forthsky Padrigao and Mo Tounkara joined forces for University of Santo Tomas in taming Far Eastern University, 83-72, to end its two-game losing skid in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, Oct. 5.

Padrigao finished with 14 points and 11 assists including crucial hits when it mattered most while conniving with Tounkara to steer the Growling Tigers to their fourth win against three defeats.

Tounkara was equally splendid, unloading 21 points and hauling 17 rebounds as UST’s victory put FEU to its sixth defeat with a single victory.

Also shining for the Tigers were Nic Cabanero, who had 13 points, and Gelo Crisostomo and Christian Manaytay, who chipped in 11 markers apiece.

“We’re able to share the ball and put all our effort in and that’s what matters,” said Tounkara.

“We we’re at our best when we’re sharing the ball, ‘yon lang ‘yong ginawa namin ngayon,” Padrigao added.

The Pido Jarencio-mentored squad was off to a rousing start, seizing a 13-4 cushion midway of the opening quarter before Jorick Bautista took charge for the Tamaraws, keeping them closer in the second canto where they cut their deficit to just five, 31-26.

FEU managed to level the game at 38-all, but a 12-1 blitz spearheaded by Padrigao and Tounkara gave UST a 50-40 cushion and never looked back.

Bautista, who came off the bench, scored 17 points in a losing cause for FEU, even as Veejay Pre and Janrey Pasao had 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, National University halted its four-game skid as it turned back Ateneo, 78-68, in a battle of lowly squads.

The Bulldogs banked on their third-quarter surge where they seized a 52-38 cushion and didn’t bother to look back – in spite of Andrew Bongo’s hot-shooting night – to finish the first round eliminations with a 2-5 win-loss record.

Kenshin Padrones was a man in a mission, starring for the Jeff Napa-mentored squad with 18 points and snagged six rebounds while Jake Figueroa logged 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Bongo caught fire from the distance, firing five triples to end up with 17 points while Jared Bahay provided an ample support of 15 markers in a losing cause.

Ateneo absorbed its three-game losing streak for 1-6 to join FEU at the bottom standings.

The scores

First Game

UST 83 – Tounkara 21, Padrigao 14, Cabañero 13, Manaytay 11, Crisostomo 11, Lane 5, Llemit 2, Calum 2, Acido 2, Danting 2, Paranada 0, Pangilinan 0, Estacio 0.
FEU 72 – Bautista 17, Pre 14, Pasaol 13, Daa 11, Konateh 10, Alforque 4, Montemayor 3, Ona 0, Nakai 0, Jones 0, Bagunu 0.
Quarters: 19-15, 34-32, 59-51, 83-72.

Second Game

NU 78 – Padrones 18, Figueroa 15, Enriquez 9, Manansala 8, Garcia 7, Francisco 6, Jumamoy 4, Palacielo 4, Perciano 3, Dela Cruz 2, Lim 1, Santiago 1, Yu 0, Parks 0.

ATENEO 68 – Bongo 17, Bahay 15, Lazaro 7, Gamber 7, Balogun 6, Tuano 5, Espinosa 4, Koon 2, Quitevis 2, Espina 2, Ong 1, Porter 0.

Quarters: 15-13; 34-28; 58-46; 78-68.