Santo Tomas loses Teng, down-the-wire battle with NU
NU forward Bobby Ray Parks drives through the lane in their game against UST on Wednesday. (FCF / Ralph Samson)
It’s a wild, wide-open race in the 76th UAAP men’s basketball tourney.
The Tigers, who entered the game with a clean slate, finally succumbed to their first defeat in three matches against a vengeful National University five, 71-67, in the main game of Wednesday’s twinbill at the Araneta Coliseum.
Bobby Ray Parks led the Bulldogs with a well-rounded performance of 20 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks. Jean Mbe totalled for 17 points and 11 rebounds, while long bomber Troy Rosario had 12 points and eight boards.
After UST lost Jeric Teng due to a minor shoulder injury late in the first half when he was blindsided with a shove from Joeffrey Javillonar that sent him crashing to the floor, the Bulldogs completed a 14-7 run to close out the third period to put them up by 10.
In the see-saw final period, UST connected on 15 of their 24 attempts on the foul line, together with a hail mary trey from Kevin Ferrer with 1.6 ticks on the clock, to come within three but ran out of time to complete their comeback.
“That’s the one thing that made them come back was their foul shots. Good thing meron pa kaming cushion. It’s a wild finish,” told National University head coach Eric Altamirano to Fullcourtfresh.com following the contest.
Ferrer amassed 20 points and seven rebounds, while Ed Daquioag strung together 13 points and six rebounds in the contest.
(FCF / Ralph Samson)
Adamson weathers fourth quarter storm, claim win over UE
Less than a week following a painful loss in the second half against UST, Season 76 hosts Adamson University turned a wire-to-wire victory over University of the East, 78-71, in the day’s opening men’s basketball match.
Roider Cabrera turned in a furious first half performance, putting up 19 points on a 7-for-11 clip from the field. But his once-scorching hot shooting cooled off in his final 15 minutes on the floor with a 0-for-7 mark. Ingrid Sewa tallied 15 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks, while Jericho Cruz rounded out the top performers with 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Despite the seven point victory, the Falcons once held a 30 point advantage by the 7:36 mark of the third before Roi Sumang unleashed a furious final period push that fell short by five minutes.
“If not for our 30 point lead, we wouldn’t have survived,” noted Adamson head coach Leo Austria following the game. “If you remember our game against UST, we played well in the first half but we collaped.”
Sumang put up his best scoring output of the tournament so far with 26 points, while Lord Casajeros added 14 in a losing campaign.
BOX SCORES
First game
ADAMSON (78): Cabrera 19, Sewa 15, Cruz 10, Julkipli 6, Brondial 6, Inigo 5, Rios 4, Petilos 4, Agustin 4, Abrigo 4, Monteclaro 1, Trollano 0
UE (71): Sumang 26, Casajeros 14, Mammie 9, Sumido 6, Santos 4, Javier 4, Olivarez 2, Noble 2, Jumao-as 2, Alberto 2, Pujante 0, Hernandez 0, Galanza 0, Flores 0
QUARTERS: 27-14, 50-25, 68-45, 78-71
Second game
NATIONAL (71): Parks 20, Mbe 17, Rosario 12, Alolino 8, Villamor 5, Javillonar 3, Rono 2, Porter 2, Khobuntin 2, De Guzman 0, Alejandro 0
SANTO TOMAS (67): Ferrer 20, Daquioag 13, Bautista 9, Teng 7, Mariano 7, Abdul 6, Lo 3, Pe 2, So 0, Hainga 0
QUARTERS: 22-15, 37-31, 54-44, 71-67
