UST’s Karim Abdul (right) goes for a shot against FEU’s Prince Orizu in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball Finals on Wednesday night at Mall of Asia Arena. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Karim Abdul has been one of the best big men in the UAAP as he nears the end of his five-year stay with University of Santo Tomas.
Abdul has had epic battles with National University’s Alfred Aroga and Ateneo’s giant Greg Slaughter.
And in this year’s finals, the 6-foot-6 Abdul again finds himself in a “really tough” matchup against Far Eastern University’s Prince Orizu.
Abdul is giving up three inches in height against Orizu but the height differential, the Thomasian big man said, is much more than just a size disparity on the floor.
“He’a got the size advantage, he’s not lanky, but he’s really heavy,” Abdul said after his 19 points, nine rebounds and two blocks weren’t enough as UST lost to FEU, 75-64, in Game 1 of the UAAP Finals.
Orizu has the strength and athleticism to match up against Abdul and he even had the numbers to prove it as he finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and three dunks in his best game yet.
“It’s not easy to go around him, it’s really tough, really hard.”