FORMER UST coach Aric del Rosario clinched his first title for the University of Perpetual Help Altas, who subdued the Growling Tigers, 56-65, in the 20th Fr. Martin Cup Summer basketball tournament at the Trinity University of Asia Gym last June 8.
Tied 46-all in the payoff period, the Altas ignited a 14-4 run on back-to-back treys from Harold Arboleda and Joel Jolangco to erect an 11-point lead, 61-50, with five minutes left.
Aljon Mariano and Paulo Pe answered for the Tigers to trim the deficit to five, 56-61. But Arboleda and Nigerian big man Akhuetie Bright made four freethrows to seal the victory.
UST head coach Bong Dela Cruz commended his players, who almost ruled the pre-UAAP tournament despite a depleted lineup.
“Hindi lang talaga kami buo pero kita naman sa laro [kanina] na may improvement. Iyon naman ang target namin, mag-improve every game,” said Dela Cruz, who missed the services of Kevin Ferrer and Ed Daquioag due to injuries.
Del Rosario, architect of the Tigers’ four straight UAAP championships in the 90s, said it pained him to defeat his alma mater.
“Masakit sa loob ko kasi kalaban ko ‘yung dati kong team pero syempre kahit dito lang sa Fr. Martin makakuha kami ng title,” he said. “Sabi ko sa players ko na kailangan namin makuha ito para makatikim naman kami ng championship.”
Down 28-39 at the half, the Tigers made a furious comeback in the third period as bigman Karim Abdul scored seven straight points as part of a 16-3 UST run.
A three-point play by returning Tiger Louie Vigil gave UST a 44-42 advantage in the dying minutes of the third canto.
Skipper Abdul paced the Tigers with 17 points while co-captain Mariano contributed nine points. Pe and Vigil chipped in seven points each.
Juneric Baloria and Bright led the Altas with 17 points apiece.
In the semifinals last June 7, the Tigers disposed of Enderun Colleges, 74-66, to remain undefeated in eight games.
Mariano put up seven consecutive points in the final frame for a 10-0 UST run that extended a two-point lead to 12, 63-51.
The Titans then made an 8-0 rally of their own before Pe completed an and-one play for the Tigers, 70-64.
Vigil scoted 18 points for UST while Mariano and Pe each had 14 markers.
