UST turns back NU to force winner-take-all

By Josiah Albelda Posted Sep 22nd 2013

Not today...again.

Jeric Teng sank a dagger of a triple to quash a National University uprising as University of Santo Tomas escaped with a 71-62 decision in the 76th UAAP men's basketball semifinals Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Growling Tigers led from the opening tip to the final buzzer, but the Bulldogs threatened in the fourth quarter with a 13-0 blitz that was ended by a Teng three-pointer from way beyond the arc.

Teng made just two of 11 shots, but drilled the one that mattered the most with 3:35 left as UST lived another day and forced a do-or-die for a ticket to the championship round.

The two teams meet anew on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

"We started aggressive," said coach Pido Jarencio. "Nakita namin sa players yung desire, yung puso, yung pride."

The Tigers blazed to an 11-1 lead in the first three minutes of the game, with virtually everyone from the UST roster contributing as they took a 19-8 advantage at the end of the opening canto.

Top-seeded NU couldn't come closer than nine points until they erupted in the fourth quarter.

Even that burst proved not to be enough for the Bulldogs, however.

"Pagpasok namin, we had nothing to lose," Jarencio added. "Ang pressure nasa kanila."

NU looked the part for most of the game as they lost their second straight outing and blew the twice-to-beat advantage they worked all season for.

"Tingin ko yung momentum napunta sa kanila e," said Jarencio of the Bulldogs' late run. "Yung miss ni Mbe, big break. Nagpapasalamat ako kay Mbe, miniss niya yung dunk. Kung na-shoot yun, aka."

Kevin Ferrer led three UST players in double figures with 14 points even as the wiry wingman also put on the clamps on former MVP Ray Parks, who was limited to 14 points, most of them in the second half.

The scores:

UST (71) - Ferrer 14, Mariano 12, Bautista 12, Teng 8, Abdul 7, Sheriff 6, Pe 6, Lo 2, Lao 2, Daquioag 2

NU (62) - Alolino 17, Parks 14, Rono 8, Mbe 8, Villamor 5, Khobuntin 5, Porter 3, Alejandro 2, Rosario 0, Javillonar 0, Javelona 0

Quarters: 19-8, 39-23, 54-44, 71-62