THE GROWLING Tigers got the boot early in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) after losing to De La Salle University, 67-72, at the Arena in San Juan last Nov. 21.
Rookie Kevin Ferrer led the Tigers with a game-high 23 points, in the absence of chief gunners Jeric Fortuna and Jeric Teng, who were competing in the Southeast Asian games. Fellow rookie Louie Vigil and sophomore Kim Lo chipped in nine points apiece.
Coach Pido Jarencio said the team had only one week to prepare for the tournament.
Joshua Webb led the Green Archers with 16 points and five boards while Almond Vosotros contributed 13 markers. UST’s Cameroonian bigman Karim Abdul was not in his deadly usual form and was limited to only five points and seven rebounds.
The Tigers got close by two points, 67-69, after Jamil Sheriff sank two free throws in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. But Vosotros made two charities of his own toseal the deal for La Salle.
Twice in a row
In a separate game, the Tigers carved their second-straight victory after nailing SkyForce, 84-65, in their Millennium Basketball League faceoff at the Lyceum Gym last Nov.25.
“Parang tune-up games lang ito to see kung nag-iimprove ba tayo at para mabigyan din ng break 'yung mga bago,”assistant coach Senen Duenas said. "Pero syempre gusto pa rin natin manalo kasi defending champions tayo.”
Aljon Mariano, who missed UAAP Season 74 due to an arm injury, fired an impressive 21 points to carry the España squad,while Ferrer and Vigil combined for 35 markers. Jan Edward B. Ballesteros
