UAAP: Abdul, Tigers stand tall with double OT win versus FEU

Karim Abdul came up with a huge block to deny Mac Belo's game-winning try in double overtime, as the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers defeated the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 79-78, on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, in the second round of UAAP Season 76.

"Sa players yun. Ito yung hinihintay kong makita sa kanila," said UST head coach Pido Jarencio. "Yung puso, yung desire, pinakita nila sa game na ito."

[Review the play-by-play of this game here]

The Tigers saw their record improve to 6-5, and they'll tie the loser of ADMU vs DLSU later this afternoon. FEU on the other hand slumped to 8-4, as they've now lost 4-of-5 in the second round, following a perfect record in round one. Now, the NU Bulldogs moved up to the top spot with their 8-3 record.

"Birthday gift ito para kay Tata [Clark] Bautista kasi birthday niya ngayon. Ako naman sa September 5 kaya sakto yung panalo," added Jarencio.

In the absence of team captain Jeric Teng, who is still recovering from a sore hamstring, Cameroonian center Abdul led the Tigers with 18 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. Aljon Mariano had 21 points and 11 boards, while Kevin Ferrer chipped in 15 points and 13 rebounds.

"Si Karim kasi may gusting i-prove sa sarili niya," Jarencio said. "Last year dapat siya daw ang MVP kaya ngayon binibigay niya talaga lahat kaya eto double-double ulit."

"Last year we were second, now I’m trying my best to help this team be in the same position again and hopefully this time we can win a championship," added Abdul.

With 27 seconds remaining in the fourth, the Tams put Ferrer on the line to tie or to get ahead, but he missed both. Romeo, on the other hand, made two free throws with seven seconds ledt in regulation for a three-point FEU lead, 62-59. Aljon Mariano came up big for the Tigers at the other end though, as he tied the game with a three to send the game to extra time.

Karim Abdul started the scoring in overtime, but Garcia was quick to take the lead back with a trey. A put-back from Ferrer was met by splits from Cruz and Belo, as Abdul managed to tie the game with a split of his own at the 2:19 mark, 67-all.

Mendoza shoved FEU ahead with a corner three at the 2:04 mark, but Clark Bautista responded with his own long bomb to tie the game at 70-all, to send the game to double overtime.

In the second extra period, Ferrer made up for his crucial misses from the line by earning two points, 72-70. Mac Belo responded with three straight hits, giving the Tams a four-point edge, 76-72.
Abdul then took it strong inside for a basket, but the big man missed the extra free throw. A Mariano jumper and an Abdul three-point play finally put the Tigers ahead, 79-76, with 32 seconds remaining.

FEU managed to score a quick two off Mike Tolomia, to cut the lead two one, 79-78. With 23 seconds remaining, Bautista lost the ball, but Karim Abdul was there to block Mac Belo's game-winning try.

The Tams started the game firing as they didn’t want a repeat of their flat first quarter against Ateneo in their last game. Terrence Romeo nailed two early triples to give the Tamaraws an 8-2 advantage at the 7:47 mark of the first, but the Tigers stayed close thanks to inside baskets from Aljon Mariano and Kevin Ferrer. A Gryann Mendoza basket from RR Garcia then  gave FEU a 16-10 lead after one.

FEU built a double-digit lead at 20-10 after two baskets from Mac Belo to start the second quarter. UST then uncorked a 6-0 run capped with a baseline floater from Ferrer at the 6:55 mark of the second to cut FEU’s lead down to just four points.

Jumpers from Cruz and Romeo, along with a Belo put-back, re-established a 28-20 lead for FEU. The Tigers only managed to score one point off a Sherriff split from the line, as Pogoy and Romeo closed out the half with twin jumpers, 32-21.

The game got chippy early in the third quarter as Anthony Hargrove was called for an offensive foul on Ferrer after the lanky Tiger blocked the FEU import. Hargrove then shoved Abdul and the UST import sold the call, resulting in an unsportsmanlike foul. Four straight free throws from Abdul brought the FEU lead down to just six points at 37-31. The big man added another basket from down low to trim the lead further to four, but Mike Tolomia responded with a triple for a 40-33 count in FEU’s favor with 4:33 left in the third.

The Tigers were down 42-36 when they unleashed a furious rally to claim the lead for the first time. Their run started with a Mariano triple and it was followed by a Ferrer basket and a Kim Lo fast break layup to give UST a 43-42 lead with 53 seconds left in the third.

UST had a golden chance to enter the fourth quarter with the lead, but Baustista hurriedly put up a triple, which gave possession back to the Tamaraws. Garcia made the Tigers pay with a long two to give FEU a 44-43 lead after three.

A Terrence Romeo trey opened up the fourth quarter, but Kevin Ferrer and Ed Daquioag responded with two straight makes to tie the game at 47-all. After a Carl Cruz bucket, the Tigers went on a tear, hitting in the shaded lane, while stringing together some free throws for a 9-0 run and a seven-point lead, 56-49.

The Tams replied with their own rally as Hargrove anchored the 9-0 FEU counter-run, to take a 58-56 lead with 2:08 to go. Mariano re-took the lead for UST with a split and a fast break layup, 59-58, but Romeo nailed a point-blank score for a one-point FEU advantage.

Terrence Romeo led FEU with 19 points, seven boards and six assists. He shot a paltry 3-of-16 from deep though, while going 4-of-9 in the two-point region. RR Garcia also had a miserable time from beyond the arc, going 1-of-11. He ended up with eight points. - Carlo Pamintuan/ Renee Fopalan, GMA News



The scores:

UST - Karim 24, Mariano 21, Ferrer 15, Lo, 8, Bauststa 6, Pe 2, Daquioag 2, Sherrif 1, Lao 0

FEU - Romeo 19, Belo 15, Mendoza 13, Garcia 8, Hargrove 6, Cruz 6, Tolomia 5, Pogoy 4, Sentcheu 2, Jose 0

Quarter scoring: 10-16, 21-32, 43-44, 62-62, 70-70, 79-78