THE UST Tiger Cubs made it far enough to the last dance only to stumble in the pivotal Game 2 of the Finals, yielding a 66-76 heartbreaker to thrice-to-beat Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets last September 16 at the Big Dome.
UST badly needs to win Game 3 to force a deciding match for a chance to steal the championship while the Eaglets only need one more win to cap the tournament with a “three-peat” title.
One factor that cost them dearly was the absence of UST’s reliable three-point sniper Jaypee Sarcia who was called with a disqualifying foul in the first quarter of Game 1 after allegedly punching Blue Eaglet Marky Mercado. A disqualifying foul will automatically mean an ejection in the game plus a one-game suspension.
Ateneo main man Kiefer Ravena, who reigned with a larger-than-life 32 points after scoring in double digits in the second and third period, stunned the Cubs with his relentless drives to inch them closer to the title.
Cubs’ hot-rod wingman Ejay Corre started the game strong for UST after firing an array of triples, backstopped by Airon Cabauatan’s cat-like maneuvers to grab the first frame for UST, 20-13.
Paolo Romero forced a 27-all deadlock with 3:26 to go in the second canto after splitting his charities but Corre immediately responded to the situation with a daredevil drive, 29-27.
Ravena’s jumper tied the game at 29-all, accounting for the second and last deadlock of the game en route to a swelling lead which UST failed to surpass until the final buzzer.
Kevin Ferrer’s last trey in within the final two minutes of the match could not bring salvation to the Cubs who last tasted the championship in Season 64.
Corre finished with 25 points followed by Cabauatan who made 16 markers for UST. Ravena led Ateneo with 32 points.
The Cubs’ dealt the first blow on Ateneo in their Game 1 showdown, 77-71, last September 14 at the Arena in San Juan.
UST team captain and top-MVP contender Ferrer led the Cubs with a game high 35 points and 14 rebounds followed by Corre who tallied 24 markers. Ravena topscored for Ateneo with 24 points, followed by Von Pessumal’s 19 markers.
Meanwhile, the Cubs pulverized the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, 74-60, in their Final Four clash last September 11 at the Arena in San Juan, to secure the last slot in the championship.
Prior to the victory, the Cubs grabbed hold of the solo second place with a twice-to-beat bonus after taming the National University Bullpups, 65-58, last September 5.
The Cubs also ended the second round of eliminations by escaping the Adamson Baby Falcons, 63-59, that marked their five-game winning streak last September 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Atleast the cubs performed a lot better than the seniors team. To Ferrer, i sure hope that you will don the UST Mens Team next year. You will be a vital cog in Jarencio’s rotation.