UAAP: UST avenges lone loss, trips NU

UST Tigers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of Santo Tomas avenged its only loss so far with a 65-57 win over defending champion National University in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Veterans Karim Abdul, Louie Vigil, Kevin Ferrer and Ed Daquioag carried the Growling Tigers, whose only defeat was a 55-54 heartbreaker to the Bulldogs last Sept. 19 in the first round.

“We got back at them and that’s been our battlecry ever since we lost to them in the first round,” said UST head coach Bong dela Cruz.

UST, which climbed back in first place at 8-1 while holding the tiebreaker against Far Eastern University, went on an 11-2 run in the final 4:11.

The Bulldogs battled back from 11 points down and even took a 55-54 edge after a 3-pointer by Gelo Alolino before the Tigers turned the game around with Vigil putting his team back in front for good and Abdul, Daquioag and Ferrer making shots late.

“I knew they were going to come back and we just have to show our composure,” said dela Cruz.

Ferrer recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Abdul also had 13 points on top of eight rebounds while Daquioag and Vigil scored 10 and eight points, respectively.

Alolino led NU’s comeback from 11 points down in the fourth quarter, unleashing half of his 20 points inside the last 7:12.

Alfred Aroga, the hero of that first round meeting, posted 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who dropped their third straight game and sixth overall in nine outings.