Pre’s 30 points lift UP past UST after two overtime periods
The Fighting Maroons moved to 6-2 and swept their season meetings with the Growling Tigers, whose record slipped to 4-4.
University of the Philippines survived a 103-101 contest against University of Santo Tomas at the Mall of Asia Arena on October 21, 2026, with Veejay Pre scoring 30 points in the UAAP Season 89 victory.
The deciding overtime belonged to Pre, who accounted for all seven points UP scored in that period. His performance also included 10 rebounds, three assists, four steals and a block.
UP held a 102-98 advantage with 1:32 remaining in the second overtime. A Kirk Cañete free throw and a Mark Llemit basket left UST trailing 102-101, before Llemit’s fifth foul sent Pre to the line. Pre made one of his two attempts to settle the result.
UST had threatened to take control in the opening overtime, using a 9-0 burst to turn an 89-87 deficit into a 96-89 lead. UP recovered through a three-pointer by Pre, a Bayla basket and two Miguel Yñiguez free throws. Jacob Bayla could not convert his late opportunity to end the game.
Regulation had also ended with UP missing a chance to win. After Bayla’s basket made it 86-81 with 38 seconds remaining, Cañete hit three foul shots and Collins Akowe scored to draw UST level. Rey Remogat’s final attempt did not fall.
Llemit topped UST’s scoring with 33 points, alongside four rebounds and two assists. Akowe supplied 23 points and 18 rebounds. For UP, Chicco Briones scored 14 points, while Remogat added 10 and recorded six assists.
