RP CAGER Kyle Neypes has shown why he could be the second coming of Dennis Rodman.
Erupting for 12 points, 23 rebounds and three blocks, Neypes lifted the UST Tiger Cubs past the top-seeded De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers for their sixth straight win, 65-60, last Sept. 12 at the San Juan Arena.
The victory gave UST a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
“We had greater desire to win this game against La Salle, with the twice-to beat advantage at stake,” coach Allan Ascue said. “Our endgame collapse showed the immaturity of the players since we have plenty of rookies but the good thing is that eventually, they were able to cope.”
UST finished the elimination round with an 11-3 win-loss record, behind the Junior Archers’ 12-2.
Neypes drilled a jumper in the painted area with only 23.6 seconds remaining in the game to stop a 12-0 blistering run by La Salle and give UST some breathing ground, 63-58.
But De La Salle threatened to spark a comeback with less than three minutes left in the clock, after Gwyne Capacio notched a charity off a technical foul from Neypes.
Neypes’ jumper temporarily stopped the bleeding, but Capacio scored on a lay-up to trim the lead, 63-60, with 17.9 ticks left.
Jezreel Jimenez scored 14 points and grabbed three rebounds while Cederick Labing-isa contributed 12 points and 2 rebounds.
De la Salle’s scoring machine Luis Dela Paz had his usual numbers of 24 markers and 5 boards while Capacio recorded a “double-double” with 17 points and 16 rebounds.
“UST has a good chance of winning because of the twice-to-beat,” Ascue said. “We’ll do everything we can to be in the Finals.”
Prior to surviving De La Salle’s endgame threat, UST whipped the Adamson Baby Falcons, 107-69, last Sept. 6. UST also coasted past the hapless University of the Philippines Baby Maroons, 106-54, last Sept. 1 after their 100-69 trouncing of the National University Bullpups last August 30.
The Tiger Cubs are set to face the Ateneo Blue Eaglets in the semifinals. Charizze L. Abulencia and Jeremy S. Perey
