14 September 2013, 9:00 p.m. – THE UST Growling Tigers missed an easy route to the Final Four after absorbing a 64-69 loss against the De La Salle Green Archers at the Mall of Asia Arena Saturday.
The Tigers will have to defeat defending champion Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday to book the last semifinal ticket.
“We are down, but we are not out,” coach Pido Jarencio said.
UST’s Karim Abdul finished strong under the basket to cut the deficit to just two, 57-59, with four minutes left in the game.
But Kevin Ferrer fouled out while Jeron Teng made a floater to give the Archers a 66-59 lead.
Aljon Mariano converted a three-pointer with 20 ticks left to bring UST closer, 64-68, but it was the last basket for the Tigers.
“There were so many forced shots. The team relaxed a bit,” Jarencio said.
In the third frame, Kim Lo’s reverse layup ignited a 9-0 run to allow the Tigers to come within five, 45-50.
Thomas Torres responded with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the half in favor of the Archers, 53-45.
Hedrix Ar-ar C. Caballe
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BOX SCORES:
UST 64 – Abdul 18, Mariano 16, Teng 10, Bautista 6, Sheriff 5, Ferrer 5, Lo 2, Daquioag 2, Pe 0, Faundo 0
La Salle 69 – Teng 19, Torres 14, Vosotros 11, Perkins 7, Van Opstal 6, Revilla 6, Torres 3, Salem 3, Reyes 0, Montalbo 0, De La Paz 0
Quarter scores: 13-15, 30-39, 45-53, 64-49
