Better late than never: Rhenz Abando delivers in clutch for UST

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Rhenz Abando wasn’t about to let University of Santo Tomas fall against Natiional University be it by hook or by crook.

UST’s exciting young forward was struggling with just eight points heading into the fourth quarter against the Bulldogs in the UAAP Sesaon 82 men’s basketball tournament.

But it was a different story in crunch time where Abando exploded to spearhead the Growling Tigers to their third win in four games following an 87-74 victory over the Bulldogs in overtime.

Abando went off, scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to finish with 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.

“I only felt that I was playing within the system during overtime because up until the fourth quarter I felt I was outside of it,” said Abando in Filipino Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Coach [Aldin Ayo] was right that my offense would eventually come.”

UST had one foot in the grave when NU held a 68-63 lead with 42.3 seconds left but Abando wouldn’t let the Bulldogs get away that easily.

After a split from the stripe that cut the lead to four, 68-64, Abando hit a gutsy three cutting the deficit to one, 68-67, with 27.7 seconds to play.

Abando then, buried NU in the extra frame hitting one from beyond the arc for the Growling Tigers’ 76-73 lead.

Soulemane Chabiyo was able to convert on a layup with 2:52 left for a 78-73 cushion before Abando followed it up with a haymaker of a triple with 2:39 to play that pushed his team’s lead to eight.

“I think there was also luck involved because during the start we were too hyped with what we’re seeing from the media,” said Abando, whose Growling Tigers bounced back from a 71-70 loss to Ateneo in their previous game. “We were too confident.”

“You all saw that our first three quarters were terrible fortunately luck was on our side in the fourth.”