UST Tigers end Eagles’ rule, gain Final 4

KARIM Abdul, Kevin Ferrer (7) and the Tigers shut the door on the title hopes of Ryan Buenafe (13) and the Blue Eagles. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

University of Santo Tomas claimed the last Final Four berth while turning Ateneo from a five-time champion into a fifth placer yesterday.

Surviving Ateneo’s repeated rallies, the Tigers regained their bearings just in time to carve out an 82-74 triumph that ended the Blue Eagles’ dominant five-year reign in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Karim Abdul buried 25 points on top of nine rebounds and five blocks and Jeric Teng also nailed five clutch free throws inside the last 27 seconds to finish with 17 markers for the Tigers, who lost to the Eagles in their title clash last year.

“It’s a good feeling,” said coach Pido Jarencio after the Tigers secured the fourth spot at 8-6 in their winner-take-all match. “They beat us in the championship last year, now we kicked them out of the Final Four. It’s about time we have a new champion.”

The Tigers advanced against National University, which holds the No. 1 spot and the twice-to-beat advantage, at the start of the Final Four on Sunday.

Far Eastern University and La Salle will clash in the other pairing next week after they dispute the No. 2 spot and the last semifinal bonus this Saturday.

Aside from absorbing a heartbreaking exit, the Eagles also saw an end to their record run of consecutive Final Four appearance at 14.

Ateneo wiped out UST’s early 18-point cushion, but the Tigers started the fourth quarter with a 13-2 bomb that stretched a slim 52-51 edge to 65-53.

The Eagles, who played minus suspended coach Bo Perasol, closed in at 75-71 in the last 52.8 seconds but the Tigers proved steady at the foul line by nailing all but one of eight attempts in the last 35 seconds.

Earlier, University of the East survived University of the Philippines, 76-73.

The Eagles and the Warriors finished tied for fifth with similar 7-7 records. The Maroons, who had a 73-70 lead, with 1:50 left finished winless at 0-14.

The scores:

First Game

UE 76—Mammie 21, Casajeros 17, Olivares 12, Jumao-as 9, Alberto 7, Santos 6, Javier 4, Sumido 0, Noble 0, Galanza 0.

UP 73—Marata 22, Soyud 15, Lao 10, Suarez 6, Ligad 5, Gallarza 4, Asilum 3, Wong 2, Harris 2, Ball 2, Gingerich 1, Amar 1, Paras 0, Desiderio 0.

Quarters: 20-19, 44-34, 66-55, 76-73

Second Game

UST 82—Abdul 25, Teng 17, Daquioag 13, Ferrer 10, Mariano 7, Bautista 6, Sheriff 4, Pe 0, Lo 0, Lao 0.

ATENEO 74—Ravena 20, Newsome 13, Elorde 12, Buenafe 9, Pessumal 8, Golla 4, Erram 4, Tolentino 2, Tiongson 2, Capacio 0.

Quarters: 25-14, 39-26, 52-51, 82-74