UST defeats UE in UAAP basketball

JUST NOT ENOUGH. Paul Zamar, who paced UE with 18 points, holds on to the back of Sheriff Sheak of UST, which won the game, 70-63, on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. PHOTO BY AUGUST DE LA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines—Not to be outshone, Kevin Ferrer took center stage as he led University of Santo Tomas to a 70-63 triumph over University of the East Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

With fellow rookies Kiefer Ravena and Ray Parks stamping their class, Ferrer stepped up to the challenge as he topscored with 19 points.

“I looked at their (Ravena and Parks) numbers and it challenged me,” said former juniors MVP Ferrer.

“He’s a versatile player,” commended UST coach Pido Jarencio, whose squad led by as much as 21, 62-41.

The game though was far from over as UST’s shooting went cold and was held scoreless for six minutes.

Playmaker Jeric Fortuna sank a timely triple to stretch the Tigers’ lead back to 12, 65-53, before the Red Warriors moved to within, 59-65, with under a minute left.

Fortuna added 12 points and eight assists for UST.

Paul Zamar’s 18 points paced UE, which dropped its second straight assignment in as many stints.