Kevin Ferrer and Ismael Corre combined for 20 of the 28 UST Tiger Cubs fourth quarter points as they grabbed game one with a 77-71 demolition over the Ateneo High School Blue Eaglets.
By: Geoff Latayan
UST’s main man Kevin Ferrer scored 10 of his 35 points and Ismael Corre also scored 10 of his 24 points in that crucial fourth quarter run that gave the Tiger Cubs a come-from-behind 77-71 conquest over the Blue Eaglets at the Flying V Arena, Sept. 14.
Ferrer, who also had 14 rebounds, torched the hoops in the fourth quarter with Corre, who finished with eight boards and six assists as they combined for 20 of the 28 fourth quarter points that the Tiger Cubs score to outpoint the Blue Eaglets.
Kiefer Ravena led the Blue Eaglets, who enjoy the thrice-to-beat incentive by virtue of sweeping the double round-robin eliminations, with 24 points.
The Blue Eaglets started the game on fire as they scored 10 unanswered points. It was not until Corre connected a twinner to score their first basket of the game.
First quarter ended at 19-13 in Ateneo’s favor when all of a sudden, the Tiger Cubs shifted gears in the second via a 16-4 run to take a 29-23 lead with 3:09 remaining before halftime.
Ferrer, who already had 21 points in the first half, closed the half with two free throws to give the Tiger Cubs the lead, 37-32 at lemon time.
Ateneo got back to the drivers seat, 50-49, as they limit UST to just 12 points led by Ravena’s explosive third quarter as he scored 12 of Ateneo’s 18 points in that quarter.
The Blue Eaglets were not prepared for a Tiger Cubs attrition as the Tiger Cubs hang on until they took the lead 62-59. The Blue Eaglets tied the score at 62 with Von Pessumal’s split and Ravena’s twinner with 3:35 left in regulation.
However, the Tiger Cubs stepped up with an 8-0 blitz to pull away 70-62 on Ferrer’s back-to-back threes and Aron Cabauatan’s twinner, 1:56 remaining.
Ateneo tried to close the gap and they did cut it to three, 71-74 but Ferrer was solid in the clutch as he sank three freebies for the final tally.
Game two is set Thursday, Sept. 16, 11 am at the Araneta Coliseum.
