THE GROWLING Tigers got a measure of revenge after edging UAAP champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, 81-76, to claim their first title in the tough Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) at the Ynares Sports Arena last Dec. 7.
The Tigers withstood a furious late-game rally in the rubber match through the efforts of PCCL MVP Jeric Teng and sophomore Kevin Ferrer. Teng scored 13 of his 22 points in the final quarter, while Ferrer ensured the victory with a key basket in the dying seconds. He finished with 22 points and nine boards.
With the win, the Tigers avenged their bitter loss to the Blue Eagles, who swept them in the UAAP Finals last October.
Though not as popular and prestigious as the UAAP, the PCCL is tougher and more competitive considering that the Tigers claimed the title in a tournament that included around 200 teams.
“This is sweet revenge,” coach Pido Jarencio said. “It’s no joke to become the No. 1 collegiate team over 200 teams.”
But the Blue Eagles didn’t go down without a fight.
Ateneo, winner of five-straight UAAP titles, went on an 8-0 run with under two minutes left to play to cut UST’ s lead to three, 79-76. But Ferrer scored on a putback off a Karim Abdul miss with 10 ticks left.
Team captain Jeric Fortuna finished with 11 points in his final game as a Tiger, while Abdul had eight markers to go with nine rebounds. Both were named to the Mythical Five selection, which also included Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter.
“We got back at Ateneo for Fortuna and (Melo) Afuang,” Teng said, referring to the two graduating Tigers.
Said Fortuna: “I wasn’t thinking of revenge. I just wanted to win the championship for myself, the team, and the community before I leave UST.”
Ryan Buenafe paced the Blue Eagles with 20 points, seven of which came during a furious Ateneo rally that narrowed the gap to three, 79-76, with 30 seconds left in the game. Ravena and Greg Slaughter had 20 and 11 markers, respectively.
The Tigers won Game 1 of the best-of-three series, 82-76, on Nov. 27, but the Blue Eagles bounced back in the next game, 70-69, to set up the do-or-die Game 3. With the win, UST gets to keep the Manuel V. Pangilinan bronze perpetual trophy for one year, including P700,000 worth of prizes.
