Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of Santo Tomas came alive late to nip La Salle in another come-from-behind win, 81-79, and stay on top of the standings in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down by as much as 11, 48-37, early in the third quarter, the Growling Tigers clawed their way back behind Kevin Ferrer and Karim Abdul, unleashing a 14-2 run to open the fourth quarter for a 73-68 lead.
With the game tied at 73, Karim Abdul and Louie Vigil gave UST a 77-73 cushion with 1:32 left before Abdul and Ferrer sealed the game at the charity stripe in the clutch.
The Green Archers went on a drought, missing 10 straight shots in the final five minutes before Thomas Torres nailed a three and Jeron Teng finished the game with a heave from the back court.
“Iba na yung second round. Nakapag-adjust na yung teams sa amin kaya dapat mag-double the effort kami sa mga ginagawa namin (The second round is different. Teams have adjusted to the way we play so we have to double our efforts),” said coach Bong dela Cruz, whose wards completed a season sweep of the Archers.
READ: UST rallies anew, whips La Salle
Abdul had his best game to date, tallying a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds on top of three block shots while Ed Daquioag had 17 markers and six boards to tow the Tigers to their seventh win in eight games.
Ferrer bucked a slow start to pour in 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter while also grabbing 11 rebounds.
UST also got a lift from Marvin Lee, who was instrumental in the comeback with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting from long range. Louie Vigil also scored 13 points.
Jeron Teng led La Salle (4-4) with 16 points, eight rebounds, and six assists while Prince Rivero got 13 markers and seven boards.
UST beat La Salle, 77-61, in a game where the Tigers trailed by as much as 14 points in the teams’ first round meeting.
The Scores:
UST 81 – Abdul 18, Daquioag 17, Ferrer 15, Vigil 13, Lee 13, Sheriff 3, Bonleon 2, Abdurasad 0, Caunan 0, Faundo 0, Garrido 0, Lao 0, Subido 0.
LA SALLE 79 – Teng 16, Rivero 13, Torralba 12, Torres 11, Tratter 7, Perkins 6, Sargent 6, Navarro 5, Langston 3.
Quarters: 21-22, 37-45, 59-66, 81-79.