Mariano shows stuff in OT, lifts Tigers past Archers
Returnee Aljon Mariano literally carried Green Archer behemoth Norbert Torres on his back for his first basket of the ballgame. It was also the last basket in regulation, and it was the basket that saved the game for University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers.
In a seemingly endless duel, the 2006 men’s basketball champions won its third straight thriller, 84-82, at the expense of the De La Salle University Green Archers in UAAP hoops action today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Overshadowing the highly-anticipated duel between brothers Jeron and Jeric Teng, the 6’4” Mariano scored on a difficult undergoal stab past 6’6” bigs Torres and Yutien Andrada to tie the game at 71-71 at the end of regulation.
To add to the drama, Archer point guard LA Revilla scored at an apparent buzzer-beater within the last nine seconds but, despite UST coach Pido Jarencio conceding defeat by shaking hands with Archer coach Gee Abanilla, the technical committee waived the shot to send the game into overtime.
It was an all-Mariano show for the Tigers since then and despite throwing bricks in the first 39 minutes of the game, he scored 11 of his 15 points in the two ensuing overtimes, mainly off power drives against the stifling defense of Andrada, Torres, and even Joshua Webb.
The Tigers capped the game with Mariano sinking 19-foot jumper off a pick-and-pop, his only open basket in the game, and with center Karim Abdul blocking Andrada’s potential game-tying lay-up.
“Itong team na ito, hinog na ito e,” Jarencio said after the game, lauding his players for still fighting despite the fatigue. “Yung tipong, ‘Hanggang dulo lalaban kami coach, hindi lang para sayo kundi para sa eskwelahan.”
The Archers, led by super rookie Jeron Teng, who scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, primarily lost the game by missing 14 of its 30 free throw attempts in the game. They dropped to solo fifth place with a 2-3 card.
The Tigers meanwhile improved to 3-1 for solo third place. They were led by Mariano and shooter Clark Bautista, who scored a career-high 21 points off six three-pointers. Jeron’s older brother Jeric afforded only nine points as he was reportedly playing with a torn MCL.
Eagles manhandle Warriors in 2nd half
In the second game, the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles staged another third quarter storm to rout the winless University of the East Red Warriors, 68-51.
Capitalizing on a choking interior defense, the Eagles scored 17 points in the third canto and limited the Warriors to only five points in the period.
Center Greg Slaughter led Ateneo with 14 points and 12 rebounds as the defending champions is at solo first with a 5-1 record.
The Warriors, sharing the doormat with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons with a 0-4 record, were led by center Chris Javier, who scored a game-high 16 points.
