University of Santo Tomas got the semifinal bonus it wanted. But the Tigers still have to wait for a week if they can hold on to the No. 1 spot in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.
And that wait is pretty hard for at least one Tigers standout, who is aching to just get the semifinals started.
“Gigil talaga ako makuha ang championship (I really want to get the championship),” said UST’s Kevin Ferrer, who unloaded a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds to power the Tigers to a 78-63 rout of Adamson Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The one-sided win capped the Tigers’ terrific elimination run. A season after finishing outside the Final Four, the Tigers returned with aplomb with an 11-3 record and a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
Only Far Eastern University (10-2) has a shot at unseating them from the top spot.
“Last year, we felt very down,” said UST coach Bong dela Cruz. “Now that we achieved the twice-to-beat, we’ll not stop there.”
La Salle, meanwhile, kept its own bid alive, snapping a three-game slide and holding off gutsy University of the Philippines, 72-68, to pump life into its Final Four bid.
“I think the sense of urgency of the players showed today,” said coach Juno Sauler after his Archers caught up with National University at fourth place at 6-7.
Jeron Teng (20 points) and Prince Rivero (18 points and 16 rebounds) typified that urgency as the Archers staged a 15-0 run for a 69-60 lead going into the last three minutes.
“We’re aware that our two games are very crucial,” said Teng.
The Maroons—who even had to deal with player Pio Longa wearing a wrong uniform that led to a technical foul—still had their chances in the last 32 seconds but three consecutive turnovers doomed their upset bid.
The scores:
First Game
UST 78—Ferrer 25, Vigil 15, Daquioag 11, Abdul 9, Lao 6, Bonleon 5, Faundo 4, Lee 3, Sheriff 0, Subido 0, Arana 0, Caunan 0, Aburasad 0, Garrido 0, Huang 0, Suarez 0.
ADAMSON 63—Sarr 12, Capote 10, Ochea 9, Nalos 8, Tungcab 8, Polican 5, Fernandez 4, J. Garcia 3, Villanueva 2, Bernardo 1, Margallo 0, C. Garcia 0, Escalambre 0, Miranda 0.
Quarters: 21-14, 37-26, 57-44, 78-63.
Second Game
LA SALLE 72—Teng 20, Rivero 18, Torres 11, Torralba 8, Caracut 7, Perkins 4, Langston 2, Muyang 2, Go 0.
UP 68—Manuel 15, Moralde 14, Desiderio 10, Dario 9, Longa 8, Amar 6, Gallarza 2, Kone 2, Vito 2, Harris 0, Jaboneta 0, Juruena 0, Lim 0.
Quarters: 19-6, 27-26, 49-52, 72-68