THE UST Growling Tigers faltered late in the fourth quarter and fell short against three-time NCAA defending champion San Beda College, 70-74, in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan last June 12.
Despite the 27 -point explosion of team captain Jeric Teng, the Tigers settled for fourth place, their highest finish since the off-season tournament’s inception in 2006.
Hotshot Clark Bautista drained a crucial three-pointer that put UST within two, 70-72, with 12.4 ticks left in the game.
But big man Arthur Dela Cruz sank both of his free throws after being fouled by Aljon Mariano in the ensuing play to give San Beda the third spot, an improvement from its fourth-place finish last year.
With barely 10 seconds left, Teng tried to save the day for UST with a trey, but missed.
The Tigers earlier unleashed a 10-2 run in the 1:12 mark of the last canto, highlighted by Eduardo Daquioag’s three-pointer, to trim San Beda’s lead to three, 67-70.
UST was leading at the half, 35-32, but its defense collapsed going into the third quarter that resulted to an emphatic 14-0 San Beda run, 48-36.
“We had a lot of defensive lapses in the game. Our mistakes in this tournament are lessons we will bring with us in the UAAP,” coach Pido Jarencio said.
The Red Lions relied on veterans Baser Amer and Rome Dela Rosa, who combined for 23 markers, 11 rebounds and five assists.
In their semifinals game last June 7, the Tigers blew their chances of going into the finals for the first time and bowed to eventual champions University of the East (UE), 75-77.
Kevin Ferrer uncorked an equalizing trey in the 1:47 mark of the payoff period, 71-all. But he later committed his final foul that sent him back to the bench alongside Abdul and Teng, who both fouled out within the last four minutes of the same quarter.
Mariano took charge and scored to give the lead back to the Tigers, 73-72.
But import Charles Mammie’s basket with 21 seconds left to play gave UE a four-point cushion, 77-73.
“Nagkulang kami sa tao nung fourth quarter. Naging aggressive pa sila (UE) at nagkaroon kami ng kaunting lapses sa dulo,” Ferrer said.
Ferrer led UST with 19 points, while Abdul added 14 markers and 13 rebounds. Mammie posted 16 markers and 10 boards for UE.
BOX SCORES:
UST – Teng 27, Abdul 12, Mariano 9, Bautista 9, Lo 6, Daquioag 5, So 2, Pe 0, Ferrer 0, Sheriff 0, Tan 0, Macasaet 0, Lao 0, Hainga 0
SBC – Amer 15, Dela Rosa 13, Adeogun 12, Pascual 12, Dela Cruz 10, Mendoza 4, Abarcar 4, Koga 2, Ludovice 2, A. Semerad 0, D. Semerad 0, Sara 0, Villaruz 0
Quarter scores: 16-17, 35-32, 52-53, 70-74
