SWEETER the second time around.
Just like their first-round encounter last season, the UST Growling Tigers held on to a slim lead down the stretch to escape De La Salle University in overtime, 63-58, to open their UAAP men’s basketball campaign on a high note at the jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena last June 29.
Team captain Jeric Teng exploded for a game-high 23 points and six rebounds, including four consecutive points in the extra period, to pilot the Tigers to their first win.
Karim Abdul displayed an all-around performance and racked up 17 markers, 10 boards, two assists, two steals and three blocks.
Despite being quiet all throughout the game, Aljon Mariano saved the day for UST after converting three clutch free throws in the additional period that put the Tigers ahead and sealed the final tally with 9.5 seconds left.
“We had opening-game jitters. Their play was bad and so was ours. But in the end, we got the win,”said UST coach Pido Jarencio, who admitted Mariano was “still not 100 percent.”
“Abdul has developed his inside game and Teng has been more consistent,” he added.
Teng and Abdul dictated the tempo for the Tigers in the extra period as they teamed up for a 9-5 UST run, 60-56.
Paulo Pe became aggressive in the final minute of the fourth quarter after securing a defensive rebound and draining a free throw en route to a 51-49 UST lead.
But Jason Perkins stepped up when it mattered most for La Salle and connected on a midrange jumper off an LA Revilla assist with 11 ticks remaining, 51-all.
Teng tried to wrap up the game for the Tigers in regulation, but missed a pull-up jumper as time expired.
Earlier in the payoff period, the Green Archers sparked a 10-2 rally, highlighted by Revilla’s left-handed layup that trimmed UST’s lead to one, 49-50.
Almond Vosotros and Perkins combined for 26 markers for La Salle, which is parading a 13-man lineup this year under new mentor Juno Sauler.
UST was up by as many as 12 points in the second canto as Teng and Abdul led a 14-2 charge, 28-15.
Last season, Mariano lifted the Tigers past La Salle after scoring 11 of his 15 points in the extra periods for an 84-82 double-overtime victory.
BOX SCORES:
UST 63 – Teng 23, Abdul 17, Bautista 6, Mariano 5, Ferrer 5, Pe 3, Hainga 2, Daquioag 2, Lo 0
La Salle 58 – Vosotros 13, Perkins 13, Teng 10, Torres, T. 7, Torres. N. 6, Reyes 4, Revilla 4, Van Opstal 1, Tampus 0, Bolick 0
QUARTER SCORES: 10-12, 28-20, 40-34, 51-51, 63-58
