UST men's basketball clinches Final Four spot, faces UP with twice-to-beat

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) men's basketball team secured their spot in the UAAP Season 87 Final 4 after defeating Adamson University with a score of 75-49 on Saturday, marking UST's return to the top tier after five years and clinching them the third seed for the playoffs.

Coach Pido Jarencio praised his team's second-half performance, noting that their aggressive play and efficient shooting were key factors in securing their place in the Final Four.

UST will face the University of the Philippines (UP) in the semifinals, where UP holds a twice-to-beat advantage and boasts championship experience from Season 84, while UST has only one player with playoff experience: Forthsky Padrigao.

Jarencio expressed confidence in his players and emphasized that this is a good stepping stone for the team to make history against UP.

The Tigers are eager to face UP and create their own story, as they look forward to challenging the Maroons despite the significant gap in experience.