Finally, the sophomore slump is broken.
Last season’s best rookie Arvin Tolentino finally woke up in Season 78, scoring 13 of his game high 20 points in the fourth quarter as Ateneo de Manila University gets back on first round tormentors University of Santo Tomas (UST), 80-74, in UAAP men’s basketball action Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“My task is to defend, set up screens, rebound the ball, and defend Kevin Ferrer. I just scored because of the opportunities given to me,” the former NCAA juniors MVP said after the game.
Ateneo was red hot from the get go by attacking the rim with impunity, scoring on fastbreaks, post ups, and drives that made them erect a 21-12 first quarter lead.
It was all uphill for the blue and white as they played an impenetrable interior defense, giving UST only one field goal in the second quarter: a short stab by Louie Vigil in the 9:36 mark.
Down 28-41 entering the second half, UST trimmed the lead to as much as three, 50-53, with three straight triples from Marvin Lee, Ed Daquioag, and Kent Lao but that was the final stand of the Growling Tigers as the Blue Eagles went on an 8-2 run to open the fourth quarter.
Tolentino figured in said run, scoring on back-to-back triples, then following up with a steal and layup and another triple. He missed only one shot—a contested three-pointer—in the quarter.
He then swished a pull-up jumper in the last three minutes to mount a 75-65 lead, as both teams traded baskets thereafter.
“This is a character-building win for us,” said Von Pessumal, who added 16 points.
The win is Ateneo’s first against a winning team and their sixth in ten games, which is good for solo third place.
They have won twice against league doormat Adamson University, and once against the lower-tier National University, University of the East, and University of the Philippines.
The Growling Tigers dropped its second game of the season and now sits at solo second place at 8-2. They were led by Daquioag with 19 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks while the rookie Lee added 15 points.
