UAAP: Tigers pull away from Tams, 63-43, in 3rd quarter

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers dumped a bigger lead over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the third quarter of their duel for the final slot of the UAAP Final Four semis – 20 points, with the score at 63-43. It was the Tams who got the first quarter lead, 19-17, but the Tigers, enduring much pressure as defending champs, rallied in the second quarter, closing the half with a 14-point lead, 39-25. The Tamaraws and the Tigers – playing to an intense crowd at the Araneta Coliseum on Monday – are tied in third with 8-6 win-loss cards. The pressure on both teams almost marred the game halfway through the very first quarter. In a rebound scramble in the Tigers' court, the Tams' Reil Cervantes went down on the floor with the ball, with Khasim Mirza, also on his back, trying to snatch it away. On getting up, Mirza started to take a step toward toward Cervantes, but other players blocked him. Mirza and Cervantes got a technical foul each. And possession went to the Tamaraws. Mark Angelo Canlas gave the Tigers their very first basket, a two-pointer, but Cervantes replied for the Tams with a three-pointer. For his first five, Tamaraws coach Glen Capacio fielded Mark Barroca, Marnel Baracael, Benedict Fernandez, JR Cawaling, and Reil Cervantes. For his starting lineup, Tigers coach Pido Jarencio fielded John Paul Cuan, Jervy Cruz, Khasim Mirza, Mark Angelo Canlas, and Dylan Ababou. Meanwhile, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the De La Salle Green Archers, long-time archrivals now tied at second with 9-5 win-loss cards, will face each other on Tuesday to face off for the second spot of the Final Four semis. - GMANews.TV