Jeric Teng: ‘It’s our time to win UAAP title’

ONE FOR UST. Kevin Ferrer and the rest of the Growling Tigers are only one win away from their first UAAP men’s basketball title in nine years. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Jeric Teng, the former University of Santo Tomas captain, believes the Growling Tigers will finally end their heartaches with a championship on Wednesday.

Teng is convinced that after getting swept by Ateneo in 2012 and losing to La Salle in overtime of Game 3 the following year, the Tigers are more prepared and hungrier than ever.

“They’re so hungry. We’ve been short twice in the finals, so I think this team is more ready this time out,” said Teng, whose shot with 34 seconds left of that deciding game against La Salle would’ve given UST the title.

“I’m confident. These players don’t want to lose anymore,” Teng said, referring to his former teammates Kevin Ferrer, Karim Abdul, and Ed Daquioag to name a few. “It’s our time to win the championship.”

UST, led by Ferrer’s virtuoso performance, leveled the series and forced a winner-take-all Game 3 with a pulsating 62-56 win over Far Eastern University last Saturday.

Teng has no doubt the final game of the season will be decided in the clutch.

“It will boil down to decision-making. Everyone is going all-out. It will be a fun game to watch.”