Photo by Ralph Samson
No more embarrassments.
After a humiliating loss on opening day, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers played splendid in clutch time, upsetting four-time champion Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, 71-70, in UAAP action yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Dubbed by Ateneo coach Norman Black as his biggest worry, the Tigers, down and wounded in the first half, needed an offensive explosion by returning forward Aljohn Mariano and clutch plays from Cameroonian Karim Abdul and swingman Jeric Teng for the win.
Down by 15 and shooting only 28 per cent in the first half, Mariano scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the third quarter to spark a 30-point explosion by the Tigers in the quarter alone, two points higher than their first half output of 28. Mariano also had 13 rebounds.
Down 54-58 at the start of the final canto, the Blue Eagles had never regained the lead despite efforts from Kiefer Ravena and Nico Salva of catching up.
After a booming trey by Teng at the last two minute mark, Abdul uncharacteristically scored four points off dribble-penetrations despite Ravena’s own clutch scoring efforts.
At the 11 second mark, Abdul nailed the winner, driving right against the defense of the lethargic Greg Slaughter for an open layup to lift the Tiger, 71-67.
Ateneo point guard Juami Tiongson, however, pulled a quick three-pointer with five seconds to go but it was not enough to salvage the game for the Eagles.
“(It was the) law of averages,” said a relieved UST coach Pido Jarencio, who won his first game against Black after five years, when the Tigers were still bannered by current pro stars Jervy Cruz and Dylan Ababou. “Hindi naman pwedeng parati na lang kaming umiiyak, parati na lang naghihinagpis.”Four Tigers scored in double digits while Ravena led the Eagles with 19 points.
In the second game, the De La Salle Green Archers escaped a University of the East Warriors, 67-59.
Despite fighting nip and tuck for 32 minutes, the Archers found their heroes in rookie Jeron Teng and court general LA Revilla, who combined for nine points for La Salle’s 12-0 winning run in the final canto.
Super rookie Teng led the league-leading Archers with 16 points and is currently averaging 15.5 points in two games.
The gutsy Warriors, who earlier lost by 35 points versus the National University Bulldogs, were led by point guard Roi Sumang, who scored 20, and power forward Adrian Santos, who chalked a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds.
BOX SCORES
First game
SANTO TOMAS (71): Mariano 21, Teng 16, Abdul 14, Fortuna 11, Ferrer 4, Bautista 3, Lo 2, Pe 0, Daquioag 0, Afuang 0
ATENEO (70): Ravena 19, Salva 17, Slaughter 9, Tiongson 8, Buenafe 5, Sumalinog 4, Elorde 3, Chua 3, Golla 2, Gonzaga 0, Erram 0
QUARTERS: 12-27, 28-43, 58-54, 71-70
Second game
DE LA SALLE (67): Teng 16, Mendoza 11, Revilla 11, Torres T 7, Van Opstal 5, Vosotros 5, Dela Paz 4, Torres N 3, Andrada 2, Tampus 2, Manguera 1, Paredes 0, Gotladera 0, Webb 0
EAST (59): Sumang 20, Santos 14, Javier 6, Olayon 5, Galanza 5, Villarias 3, Sumido 2, Razon 2, Mena 2, Belleza 0, Valdez 0, Hernandez 0, Flores 0, Duncil 0
QUARTERS: 13-11, 29-22, 43-39, 67-59
