Tigers outlast Fighting Maroons in OT, 87-81

University of Santo Tomas leaned on its torrid outside shooting in the first overtime game of UAAP Season 73 to turn back University of the Philippines, 87-81, on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Growling Tigers shot almost 50 percent from beyond the arc with Jeric Fortuna making 8-of-10 to finish with a game- and season-high 29 points while adding six rebounds and five steals to his name. Jeric Teng could have won it for UST in regulation but split his free throws that forced overtime. Fortuna, already with 22 points after four quarters, continued with his hot start in overtime, draining another triple – his seventh – plus a foul from Magi Sison for a rare four-point play. His eighth trey gave UST a 76-72 edge with 2:29 left in the game. Fortuna fired two triples while Clark Bautista and Aljon Mariano added one each as the Tigers notched their second victory in three games. Fortuna's eight three-pointers were the most since National University's Jeff Napa fired 10 against La Salle in 2001. "Ang alam ko talaga, swerte ang dilaw ngayon. Isipin mo patay na, nabuhay pa," said Jarencio. "Yung puso lumabas kasi ayaw nila matalo kaya siguro ganun nagkaroon ng attitude na ayaw matalo kaya siguro nanalo." Mariano added 18 points while Teng made 13 and sent the game into overtime tied at 69-all after splitting his charities off Mike Silungan's foul with 3.2 seconds left in regulation. Center Magi Sison, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds, scored to give UP its last lead at 71-69 with 3:47 left but fouled Fortuna on a rare four-point play that made it 73-71 with 3:27 to go and never looked back. It was a disappointing loss for the Fighting Maroons, whose coach Aboy Castro informed school officials on Wednesday that he will go on indefinite leave two because of personal reasons, according to UP College of Human Kinetics dean Lailani Gonzalo. Gonzalo reiterated that Castro is still the team's coach amid reports that newly-appointed consultant Boyet Fernandez, who was first seen on the UP sidelines in Saturday's loss to Adamson, has reportedly replaced Castro. "He (Castro) is still officially our coach," said Gonzalo, who also said that Castro sent a text message to UP officer-in-charge Ariel Juliano about his decision. Assistant coach Potit de Vera has been tapped as interim coach, according to Gonzalo, but Fernandez, who guided Sta Lucia to the PBA Philippine Cup title in 2008 with Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes and veterans Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino around, was visibly seen calling the shots for most of the contest. Fernandez was even seen on television drawing the plays during timeout situations and called a huddle after the final horn sounded. "It's us and coach Boyet who will handle the team for now," said UP assistant coach Jerry Codinera. "Kami naman, we'll just pitch in and give some inputs and since consultant si coach Boyet, he can also say his thoughts." UST won its seventh straight over UP dating back to the 2007 season where the Maroons went 0-14. - JVP, GMANews.TV