INQUIRER Sports

GAMES TODAY (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. -- UP vs NU
4 p.m. -- Ateneo vs La Salle

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST flashed its familiar dominance early then relied on Elmer Espiritu in the final stretch to turn back a rallying University of Santo Tomas for a 78-73 triumph at the start of the 71st UAAP men’s basketball season Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Espiritu knocked down seven straight points capped by a right baseline jumper in the last 25.3 seconds that pushed the Warriors ahead, 76-69, after the Tigers had threatened at 68-66.

“We had a hard time because every time they missed a basket, (Jervy) Cruz was there for an offensive rebound,” said Warriors coach Dindo Pumaren.

Visibly a step slower, Cruz found his rhythm late in the game to finish with a game-high 26 points and 22 rebounds.

Cruz, last season’s Most Valuable Player, came off the bench as he nursed injuries on his hamstring and ankle.

Favored Far Eastern University also lived up to its pre-season billing as sophomore Jens Knuttel buried a triple with 16.1 seconds left to lift the Tamaraws past the Adamson Falcons, 74-71, in the first game.

Knuttel’s basket on an assist by Mark Barroca capped a rally that turned a 60-65 deficit to a 73-71 advantage.

“We’re lucky that we were able to execute in the last minute,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio.

Espiritu, a high-leaping big man on his last year with UE, finished a rebound-shy of a double-double with 15 markers and nine boards.

Hans Thiele also added 13, while Marcy Arellano collected 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Warriors, who are aiming to rebound from last season’s tragic campaign that saw them losing to the La Salle Green Archers in the championship series after a remarkable 14-game elimination sweep.

Reil Cervantes topscored with 15 points and six rebounds, while Barroca added 12 for the Tamaraws.

Knuttel, who scored all of his five points in the last 38 seconds, also nailed two free throws that earlier pushed the Tamaraws within a point, 70-71.

“He’s really quarterbacking for us, his offense is secondary,” said Capacio of the 18-year-old Filipino-German. “What’s impressive is at a young age, he’s already showing his leadership.”

The Tigers shot eight points, six coming from Cruz, in a run that trimmed the margin to 68-66 from a 64-58 with 4:14 minutes left in the final canto.

Thiele took charge in an early scoring UE surge, hitting 12 of the Warriors’ last 18 points in the second quarter to extend a slim 32-30 margin to 50-39 at halftime.

With Arellano on the firing end, the Warriors raced to their biggest lead, 63-49, late in the third quarter.

“We’re smaller, but we played good defense,” said Pumaren.

Benedict Fernandez sank the second of his two free throws off a Jerick Cañada foul to give the Tamaraws a four-point buffer, 74-71, in the last 6.2 seconds.

The much-improved Falcons, playing under returning mentor Leo Austria, pulled ahead at 65-60 from a 55-55 standoff behind Michael Galinato and Jan Colina.

The Falcons had a chance to boost their slim 71-70 edge, but Colina bungled two free throws with only 20.5 seconds remaining.

The scores:
First Game
FEU 74—Cervantes 15, Barroca 12, Cawaling 11, Alisbo 10, Fernandez 9, Ramos 6, Knuttel 5, Baracael 4, Sanga 2, Kave 0, Adolfo 0.
ADAMSON 71—Galinato 22, Colina 11, Gonzalgo 11, Nuyles 5, Agustin 5, Cañada 4, Santos 4, Olalia 3, Lozada 2, Margallo 2, Alvarez 2, Yambot 0, Gorospe 0.
Quarters: 25-18, 47-41, 55-55, 74-71
Second Game
UE 78—Espiritu 15, Thiele 13, Arellano 11, Martinez 10, Noble 6, Lee 6, Llagas 5, Etrone 4, Lingganay 4, Bandaying 3, Zamar 1, Tagarda 0.
UST 73—Cruz 26, Ababou 15, Taylor 10, Allera 8, Cuan 7, Canlas 3, Fenequito 2, Mirza 2, Vargas 0, Fortuna 0, Camus 0, Bautista 0.
Quarters: 24-26, 50-39, 64-58, 78-73