IT WAS a victory five years in the making.
The Growling Tigers snapped their 12-game losing skid against the Ateneo Blue Eagles and stunned the defending UAAP champions in a come-from-behind 71-70 victory at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum last July 19.
The Tigers banked on a strong third quarter to turn a 19-point second quarter deficit into a 58-54 lead and clinch their first win of the season. UST was coming off a sorry loss to the FEU Tamaraws in their season opener.
Forward Aljon Mariano dropped 12 of his game-high 21 points in the pivotal third period where UST outscored Ateneo, 30-11. Mariano, who sat out last season due to an ankle fracture, also grabbed 12 rebounds.
“Twenty points or one point, a win is still a win,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio, whose wards last defeated Ateneo in 2007. “This is a big morale booster for the team.”
But the Blue Eagles, who are gunning for their fifth consecutive title, didn’t go down easily.
Cameroonian big man Karim Abdul slipped past Ateneo’s seven-foot center Greg Slaughter in the baseline to give UST a four-point lead, 71-67, in the final 10 seconds of the game. But guard Juami Tiongson drilled a three-pointer in the ensuing play as time ran out for the Blue Eagles.
Sophomore Kiefer Ravena led Ateneo with 19 points and five boards, while Nico Salva contributed 17 points and eight rebounds.
Mariano, earlier described by Ateneo coach Norman Black as the player he was most wary of, got plenty of help from his fellow UST veterans. Team captain Jeric Fortuna and Jeric Teng drained crucial baskets during the furious UST run and helped keep the Blue Eagles at bay when the defending champs attempted a comeback in the final canto.
“This win is very fulfilling because we showed a lot of heart,” Mariano said.
Box scores:
UST 71 – Mariano 21, Teng 16, Abdul 14, Fortuna 11, Ferrer 4, Bautista 3, Lo 2, Pe 0, Daquioag 0, Afuang 0.
Ateneo 70 – Ravena 19, Salva 17, Slaughter 9, Tiongson 8, Buenafe 5, Sumalinog 4, Elorde 3, Chua 3, Golla 2, Gonzaga 0, Erram 0.
Quarter scores: 12-27, 28-43, 58-54, 71-70
