 |
| Abdul muscled his way for 23 points and five rebounds for the Tigers, his second consecutive 20-point performance in the second round. Bien Lazarte/Dugout Philippines |
QUEZON CITY--The comeback kids of España are real.
UST Growling Tigers clawed back from a double-digit slump in the first half to secure an 85-76 victory over league-leading Far Eastern University in what was dubbed as the 'Preview of the Finals' at the jampacked Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday.
Down by as much as 14 in the second quarter, Karim Abdul, Marvin Lee and Kevin Ferrer combined forces in the last five minutes to tie the game before the end of the first half, 45-all.
UST grabbed hold of the momentum in the third after Ed Daquioag, who was struggling in the first two periods, drilled in a one-hander for a 10-point cushion, 69-59.
The Tigers never came back in the final quarter and even led by as much as 13 off a corner triple from Mario Bonleon, 78-65.
Veteran playmaker Mike Tolomia tried to stay at pace after unloading a triple, 76-81, with 1:53 left in regulation.
Just when everybody thought that Abdul, Daquioag or Ferrer will take the last shot, it was Bonleon who silenced the FEU crowd after scoring fadeaway jumper from the baseline to secure the win, 83-76.
Abdul muscled his way for 23 points and five rebounds for the Tigers, his second consecutive 20-point performance in the second round.
Ferrer, who suffered a palpitation in the latter part of the third, had 21, while Daquioag produced 11.
Vigil and Bonleon contributed 13 markers apiece.
At the beginning of the second quarter, the Tamaraws led by as much as 14 after Roger Pogoy nailed in a three-pointer, 36-22.
The Tamaraws had a shooting spree from downtown in the first period after Belo added another damaging trey for a 10-point lead, 22-12.
The Tigers listed their 10th win of the season in 13 outings, a game away of securing a twice-to-beat advantage and a chance for the top spot on their way to the Final Four.
It was their first time to sweep the Tamaraws since Season 69, the year when they last took the championship in UAAP.
FEU, who was holding an erstwhile nine-game winning streak, tasted their second loss to fall to 10-2 win-loss slate.
Tolomia spearheaded the Tams with 17, while Francis Tamsi recorded five of FEU's 12 three-pointers for 15 points.
Box Scores:
UST 85-Abdul 23, Ferrer 21, Bonleon 13, Vigil 13, Daquiaog 11, Lee 4.
FEU 76-Tolomia 17, Tamsi 15, Belo 12, Pogoy 8, Ru. Escoto 6, Arong 5, Jose 4, Orizu 4, Trinidad, 3, Iñigo 2.
Quarterscores: 19-30, 45-45, 69-59, 85-76
.jpg)
