Tigers outlast Bulldogs in OT

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas pulled off a miracle escape after a humiliating loss.

Just four days after absorbing their worst loss of the season, the Tigers squeezed out a 58-57 overtime decision over National University to claim a share of second place in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at Araneta Coliseum

Aljon Mariano scattered 22 points, including the game-winner on an isolation play with 4.4 seconds left, to cap the Tigers’ huge comeback from 17 points down, 16-33, in the second half.

“We were humiliated in that loss [to Far Eastern University], I couldn’t sleep,” said coach Pido Jarencio after his Tigers rebounded from a lopsided setback to the Tamaraws, 87-60, last Thursday.

“Our players showed strength in the endgame. That’s the number one thing that I’ve been teaching them—to have the heart and to keep fighting until the end.”

FEU also rode on a blistering windup to rally past Adamson, 76-68, in the first game as both the Tamaraws and the Tigers moved behind solo leader Ateneo (7-1) with 7-2 records.

Terrence Romeo came out firing with 27 points in the first three quarters before RR Garcia and Arvie Bringas came through in the final stretch to lift the Tamaraws from seven points down, 58-65, in the last four minutes. Romeo finished with a 7-of-11 clip from 3-point range.

Jeric Fortuna bailed out the Tigers in regulation, knocking in a triple that beat the buzzer to forge overtime, 51-51.

Leading MVP contender Karim Abdul posted his seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers.

RR Garcia knocked in a crucial triple that gave FEU a tie at 65 with over three minutes left. Garcia, who missed his first six attempts from beyond the arc, finished with 13 points and six assists.

“It was a slow start but we finished strong,” said FEU coach Bert Flores.

The scores:

First Game

FEU 76—Romeo 27, Pogoy 13, Garcia 13, Hargrove 9, Mendoza 7, A. Bringas 7, Sentcheu 0, Inigo 0, Cruz 0, M. Bringas 0.

ADAMSON 68—Camson 24, Cruz 16, Trollano 9, Agustin 6, Monteclaro 5, Rios 4, Julkipli 2, Cabrera 2, Petilos 0, Etrone 0, Abrigo 0.

Quarters: 18-23, 40-40, 56-57, 76-68

Second Game

UST 58—Mariano 22, Abdul 10, Teng 8, Fortuna 8, Bautista 8, Ferrer 2, Vigil 0, Pe 0, Lo 0, Afuang 0.

NU 57—Parks 15, Mbe 10, De Guzman 8, Rosario 6, Labing-isa 5, Javillonar 4, Betayene 3, Roño 2, Neypes 2, Alolino 2, Villamor 0, Singh 0.

Quarters: 11-16, 14-31, 32-42, 51-51 (reg.) 58-57 (OT)