UAAP: Triple-threat Tigers inflict second loss on Bulldogs

(Updated 1:45pm) The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers trailed by as much as 14 points, but roared out to another impressive victory, burying the National University Bulldogs late, 77-71, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in the 75th season of the UAAP. Fourth-year player Jeric Teng led UST with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and credited the victory to his team's never-say-die attitude. "[It was the] same situation when we played Ateneo. Pero kahit down kami ng malaki, fight lang." Jarencio also praised his star for the way he's taken a leadership role on this year's team. "Nakita naman namin siya sa summer, nagdadala ng team at nagbago ang laro niya," said Jarencio. "This season, deserving siyang maging leader at pwede pang mag MVP this year." The Bulldogs raced off to an early 8-4 advantage, but four points from Melo Afuang led a Tigers charge to bring them within one, 13-12. The host school then closed the quarter with an 8-3 run, with lone UST make being a triple by Clark Bautista, to give NU a 21-15 lead after the first period. In the second quarter the  Bulldogs showed no signs of letting up as they unleashed an 8-0 run, highlighted by a three-ball and a sidestepping move by Bobby Ray Parks in the lane, 29-15. Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio called a timeout to regroup and the move immediately paid dividends, as Aljon Mariano and Karim Abdul scored off the offensive glass and Jeric Teng completed a four-point play for an 8-1 run, 30-23. Teng scored anew on consecutive baskets, but the Bulldogs countered with a 7-3 stretch punctuated by Parks as he drained one from deep, 37-30. The former Xavier Stallion had the last say though, as he connected on a buzzer-beating drive that inched his side closer, 41-36. UST, behind Mariano, managed to keep in step through the early part of the third, until back-to-back lay-ups by center Emmanuel Mbe put them up by 10, 55-45, but n the closing minutes of the quarter, UST's offense began to click again. Abdul followed a layup with a split trip to the free throw line. A triple by Kevin Ferrer and a pull-up jumper from Jeric Fortuna gave the Tigers eight unanswered points, but NU staved off UST with an 8-0 blast over the third and fourth quarters to build a 10-point advantage, 63-53. Undaunted, the Tigers stayed aggressive as Abdul, Mariano and Afuang offered a bucket apiece, their run snapped by a Gelo Alolino trey from the right baseline that kept the Bulldogs ahead, 66-59, 5:49 left in the game That was when the Tigers exploded, as two triples from Teng sandwiched one from Kevin Ferrer, snatching a 68-66 advantage for UST.  Parks, the reigning MVP, was not to be outdone, as he rifled in one of his own. That turned out to be the last field goal for NU however, as transition plays by the Tigers built a 75-69 lead.  A hard foul on Emmanuel Mbe forced him to the bench, but his replacement, Spencer Rosario, nailed both, only to be matched on the other end by Clark Bautista, who canned two charities with 25 seconds left to complete a 24-11 fourth quarter for the University of Santo Tomas. Aside from Teng’s 21 points, Karim Abdul added a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds for UST, while Jeric Fortuna and Aljon Mariano chimed in 10 each. Bobby Ray Parks had a game-best 25 points, plus four rebounds, four assists and three blocks, but he had just five markers to offer in the crucial second half. Emmanuel Mbe, crippled by foul trouble, managed 13 points and eight rebounds. Despite shooting just 36 percent from the field, versus NU’s 44.8 percent mark, UST managed an imposing 54-39 rebounding advantage over the Bulldogs, including a 30-14 margin on the offensive end. The Bulldogs were also held back by a 12-for-24 clip from the foul line. The Tigers moved up to 2-1 in the standings, while the host team sank to .500 with a 2-2 card. - AMD, GMA News The scores: UST 77: Teng 21, Abdul 11, Mariano 10, Fortuna 10, Ferrer 8, Bautista 7, Afuang 6, Lo 4, Vigil 0, Pe 0, Daquioag 0 NU 71: Parks 25, Mbe 13, Alolino 13, Javillonar 11, Villamor 5, Rosario 3, Ignacio 1, Rono 0, Neypes 0, Khobuntin 0, De Guzman 0, Betayene 0 Quarter scores: 15-21, 36-41, 53-60, 77-71