UST’s Jeric Teng is confident that the experience from last year’s finals defeat went a long way as they scraped past La Salle, 73-72, on Wednesday in game one of the UAAP season 76 finale. Watch Teng answer some questions from members of the press along with the Tigers’ head coach Pido Jarencio. Video by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – With a second finals trip in a row, University of Santo Tomas has gotten used to the pressure that comes along with it.
And Jeric Teng is confident that the experience from last year’s finals defeat went a long way as they scraped past La Salle, 73-72, on Wednesday in game one of the UAAP season 76 finale.
Jeric Teng Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
“There’s no substitute for experience, yung naranasan namin last year against Ateneo,” Teng told reporters after the game at Smart Araneta.
With Green Archers matching up UST’s firepower with strength down low after neutralizing 17 points, the Tigers just kept on pushing until it hurt.
Teng and versatile forward Kevin Ferrer delivered the long bombs to kick off the fourth and in crunch time which gave the Tigers cushion for a wild windup.
“Thankfully breaks of the game went our way,” said Teng as La Salle botched several chances for a game winner as time wind out.
Teng finished with 17 points while Ferrer starred with 20, including five triples.
“Iniisip ko na lang, we really need to win. Iniisip ko two wins away kami sa championship na last year pa namin dapat nakuha,” the senior guard added.
Teng kept coming back to the memory of last year when the Tigers came back into the finals arena for the first time since 2006, and battled a tested Ateneo side.
What was a heartbreak then is a motivation now.
“We’ve been here before. Malaki yung experience na yun. Coming into this game, we’re relaxed. Alam na namin gagawin pag dikitan laban. Sabi talaga ni coach samin, pag dikitan ang laban dapat samin pumunta,” he said.
Head coach Pido Jarencio also lauded Teng, not only for the buckets he delivered but for also being an effective leader on the floor.
“Kinakausap niya mga players. Dapat may tagapagsalita sa team, na hindi lang ako. Sa loob si Jeric yun. Se series gusto niya talaga maprove sa sarili niya na winner siya, na leader siya,” Jarencio said.