Tigers snare PCCL crown

THEY are the champion of champions. But you can call also them Tigers for short.

Jeric Teng heated up in the final quarter as University of Santo Tomas tripped Ateneo, 81-76, to capture its first crown in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League yesterday at Ynares Sports Arena.

Teng knocked in 13 of his game-high 22 points in the last seven minutes as the Tigers pulled away from a 60-60 deadlock to forge their biggest lead, 79-67, with under three minutes left in the decider of the best-of-three title series.

“Sweet revenge,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio after his Tigers made up for last October’s heartbreak where they got swept by Ateneo in the UAAP finals.

“From the start, I told my boys to prove themselves what they’re worth. We can’t just lose to Ateneo every time,” added the mercurial coach.

The Tigers, who ruled the nationwide tournament for the first time in 10 seasons, copped the Manuel V. Pangilinan bronze perpetual trophy and P700,000 worth of prizes.

“It’s good to come out as champion. Over 200 schools and we emerged as No. 1, so it feels bigger than the UAAP,” said Jarencio, who was named Best Coach.

The PCCL, or Champions’ League, collects the champions and other top teams from various varsity leagues all around the country—including the UAAP and NCAA—to vie for a true national crown.

Kevin Ferrer also came out big with 21 points, including a key putback with 10.5 seconds left after the Blue Eagles rallied within three, 79-76.

Ferrer had nine rebounds and four assists, while graduating guard Jeric Fortuna chipped in 11 markers for the Tigers.

Named as the Most Valuable Player, Teng had five of UST’s 11 triples aside from presiding in a pivotal 12-4 run where he strung up 10 straight points that put the Tigers on top, 72-64, with four minutes to go.

“I was lucky with my shots,” said Teng, the son of former PBA cager Alvin Teng. “I give it to my teammates for letting me shoot. I think we could have won the UAAP, so this PCCL, we really wanted to win it.”

Teng also led the Mythical Team that included teammates Karim Abdul and Jeric Fortuna and Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena.

Ryan Buenafe fueled Ateneo’s last-gasp rally, drilling seven straight points in a 9-0 run that put the Blue Eagles within three, 79-76, with 30.5 seconds left.

The Tigers, who took Game 1 with an 82-76 triumph last week, had a shot at sweeping the series but Ravena nailed a game-winner in the dying seconds in Game 2 for a 70-69 win that forged a winner-take-all. With a report from Randolph B. Leongson

The scores:

UST 81—Teng 22, Ferrer 21, Fortuna 11, Abdul 8, Bautista 7, Daquioag 6, Afuang 4, Mariano 2, Hainga 0, Pe 0, Lo 0.

ATENEO 76—Ravena 20, Buenafe 20, Slaughter 11, Salva 9, Elorde 7, Tiongson 5, Sumalinog 3, Chua 1, Golla 0, Gonzaga 0.

Quarters: 19-19, 45-39, 60-57, 81-76