UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas got some semblance of payback against UAAP five-time champion Ateneo with a 76-66 win in the Final Four of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Arena in San Juan Wednesday.
The Tigers leaned on a big second quarter run as they outscored the Blue Eagles, 26-14, for a 42-32 lead at the half and never looked back from there.
It was the first meeting between the two teams since the Blue Eagles swept the Tigers in an emotion-filled UAAP best-of-three title series recently.
“Ang pinakamasarap na bawi talaga ay ang UAAP,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio. “Pero ang positive dito nagka-kumpyansa ang team.”
Jeric Teng had two three-pointers and finished with 22 points to lead the Tigers, who won their first assignment in the one-round semis.
Karim Abdul contributed 15, while Jeric Fortuna almost had a double-double with nine points and seven rebounds.
“It was a total team effort,” added Jarencio. “Jeric (Teng) dominated the game, si Karim nakuha niya ang points and rebounds niya, Fortuna controlled the key (players), and Ferrer stopped yung ibang players nila.”
UST pounded Ateneo off the boards, 48-28.
Nico Salva, the two-time Finals MVP, had 13 points for Ateneo, while Kiefer Ravena, Greg Slaughter, and Oping Sumalinog added 12, 11, and 10, respectively.
A Tata Bautista three-pointer gave the Tigers a 66-51 lead, before the Eagles trimmed it down to eight in the final 2:57 behind an 11-4 run.
But Fortuna drained a trey and then canned a charity to settle the outcome of the match.
The scores
UST (76) -- Teng 22, Abdul 15, Fortuna 9, Ferrer 8, Afuang 8, Mariano 5, Bautista 3, Vigil 2, Pe 2, Daquioag 2, Lo 0.
Ateneo (66) -- Salva 13, Ravena 12, Slaughter 11, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 5, Golla 2, Buenafe 2, Capacio 0, Pessumal 0, Chua 0, Elorde 0.
Quarterscores: 16-18, 42-32, 59-46, 76-66.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
