IN WHAT could be an anticlimactic sequel to the 2006 UAAP Finals, the UST Growling Tigers bowed to Season 69 bridesmaids Ateneo Blue Eagles, 60-67, in the ongoing Filoil-Flying V Invitational Cup last May 6 at the San Juan arena.
With slotmen Carmelo Afuang, Carlos Fenequito and Darryl Basa under foul trouble, UST, composed of selected players from Team A and Team B, relinquished a five-point lead to the Eagles that fueled a decisive 7-0 Ateneo run for a 50-53 Tiger deficit with 5:54 left.
The Tigers tried to bounce back as the bulky Afuang sank a tip-in in the succeeding minute to bring UST within three, 55-58. But the Katipunan-based squad responded with a 9-5 endgame blast to eventually seal the deal.
“The players from Team A, Team B and the new recruits are still not used to playing together,” coach Beaujing Acot told the Varsitarian. “They lack chemistry, resulting in uncalled for miscues,” he said.
Early in the third, UST also squandered a six-point lead which allowed the Eagles to tie the game at 37 apiece. Afuang, however, kept Ateneo at bay by drilling a booming triple at 40-37.
The España-based cagers controlled the game early by staging an 8-0 uprising in the second canto with back-to-back treys from Basa and Fenequito for a 27-20 advantage. A pair of charities from Afuang then gave UST a 37-31 halftime cushion, but failed to sustain their intensity in the following half.
Basa drilled a game-high 16 points and new recruit Fenequito added eight markers while Alec Rivera spearheaded Ateneo with 12 markers.
Lion’s snack
After claiming a default win over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in their first game, the Tigers faltered against reigning NCAA champions San Beda Red Lions, 82-103, last May 4 also at the San Juan arena.
After trailing for most of the time, UST veteran Hector Badua opened the final quarter with a three-point shot to keep the Tigers on the hunt at 68-71. But the Red Lions immediately got back through Pong Escobal and Yousif Aljamal who teamed up in a searing 18-7 breakaway that put San Beda ahead for good.
Down by only eight points in the second quarter, the Tigers suddenly turned sluggish on defense, allowing the Lions to mount a 28-39 lead going into the halftime break.
Come third quarter, Basa then sparked a pivotal 13-3 UST counter attack with 10 straight points to trim San Beda’s lead to a manageable 58-69 deficit. Basa’s efforts alone, however, were not good enough for the rest of the way.
Basa topscored for the Tigers with 21 points, while Pong Escobal paced the Red Lions with 30 points.
“We lacked consistency on our defense,” Acot said. “We still have to improve it, plus limit our turnovers, and grab more rebounds.”
