INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines ? A veteran University of the East squad feasted on a young La Salle side through a 65-46 blowout at the start of the 72nd UAAP men?s basketball competition yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Paul Lee, Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas kept the Warriors in total control before combining in a crippling fourth-quarter blitz that buried the Archers by as many as 22 points at 63-41.

?We played our usual game; maybe it?s their rookies who are adjusting,? said new UE coach Lawrence Chongson of the freshmen-filled Archers, last year?s losing finalists who went down to one of their lowest scoring setbacks in recent years.

Llagas topscored with 15 points, while Lee added 11 markers, six rebounds and seven assists.

Earlier, Khasim Mirza outshone his celebrated teammate Dylan Ababou as the University of Santo Tomas Tigers bucked a late rally by the Adamson Falcons and escaped with a 76-75 decision in the first game.

The Tigers pushed the lead to as many as 13 points, 66-53, before holding off an Adamson crew that missed too many chances to tie or win the game in the final minute.

Mirza, the 6-foot-4 center-forward playing his final year, buried 10 of his 23 points in the third period where the Tigers broke a 50-50 deadlock and pulled away at 66-53.

Clark Bautista added 11 markers, including a triple that gave the Tigers a 75-69 buffer heading into the final three minutes, while Ababou, a member of the RP team developmental pool, contributed 10.

?It?s just our first game, so there are still a lot of adjusting to do,? said UST coach Pido Jarencio. ?I kept reminding my players that we can?t be tentative in shooting or passing, we have to be decisive.?

A Jan Colina followup of a potential game-winning triple by Adamson rookie Roider Cabrera set the final score with four seconds remaining.

A spectacular opening ceremony highlighted by aerial acrobatics and an original song composition centered on the theme ?One Color, One Goal? kicked off action in the country?s most popular varsity league.

But there was a tinge of sadness during the kickoff rites when the league paid tribute to the late Rolando ?Brenn? Perez, the UE league representative who passed away on the eve of the season opener.

The league also honored former UAAP board member Arline Royo of National University with a plaque of appreciation for her longtime service.

University president Dr. Lydia Echauz and league head Anton Montinola of host Far Eastern U declared the games officially open. US ambassador Kristie Kenney made the ceremonial toss.

Ateneo, with a core led by reigning UAAP MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini virtually intact, opens its back-to-back championship bid against tournament favorite FEU at 4 p.m. Sunday also at the Big Dome.

University of the Philippines and National University open the twinbill at 2 p.m.

The scores:

First Game

UST 76?Mirza 23, Bautista 11, Ababou 10, Maliksi 9, Camus 8, Afuang 5, Green 4, Teng 3, Fortuna 3, Ungria 0, Mariano 0, Aytona 0.

ADAMSON 75?Colina 16, Cañada 14, Cabrera 11, Alvarez 11, Nuyles 8, Galinato 8, Santos 5, Lozada 2, Sandoval 0, Canuday 0, Camson 0.

Quarters:24-16, 43-41, 66-55, 76-75

Second Game

UE 65?Llagas 15, Lee 11, Zamar 9 Espiritu 9, Lingganay 6, Reyes 5, Acuña 4, Ayala 2, Alabanza 2, Acibar 2, Tagarda 0.

LA SALLE 46?Mangahas 9, Marata 7, Barua 7, Webb 5, Malabes 5, Villanueva 4, Ferdinand 3, Tolentino 2, Co 2, Bringas 2, Bagatsing 0, Atkins 0, Andrada 0.

Quarters: 9-10, 30-24, 43-35, 65-46