Games Thursday (Smart-Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m. — FEU vs UP
3 p.m. — Adamson vs NU
MANILA, Philippines — University of Santo Tomas drew another strong game from Cameroonian center Karim Abdul to fend off a stubborn University of the Philippines side, 77-70, in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-6 Abdul had 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists – numbers that helped the Tigers thwart a fierce UP fightback in the fourth to open their second round campaign on a high note.
They likewise extended their winning run over UP to 10 dating back in 2007.
With an even 4-4 record, UST coach Pido Jarencio believes they now have a good chance of making it to the Final Four again after missing the last two seasons.
"Going into the second round, may misyon kami na makakuha ng maraming panalo para makapasok sa Final Four, " said Jarencio. “Dahil sa panalong ito, medyo gumanda ang chance namin.”
"Actually yung momentum nasa amin na ngayon kasi pataas na yung laro namin," Jarencio said. "Yung UP, maganda nilaro siguro breaks of the game lang siguro."
The Tigers are now tied with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws who absorbed a stinging 74-67 overtime defeat to defending champion Ateneo the other day.
With no more distractions – the team was able to submit a certificate from the Philippine Consulate in Nigeria (the nearest from his home country) to the league – Abdul was like a wrecking ball, making big plays offensively despite a double-teamming defense on him.
And for a while, they appeared headed for a breezy win when they posted a 54-38 lead in the third.
But the determined Maroons, who upset the Tamaraws in the first round, rallied and moved within four thrice, the last at 67-71.
But ace guard Jeric Fortuna dashed any hopes of a Maroon comeback after coming through with a tough drive, 73-67, with 36.8 seconds remaining.
Fortuna, who ended up with with 15 points, four rebounds and six assists, earned glowing words from Jarencio.
"Para sa akin, hindi pa ba kayo nagsasawa sa bata?," Jarencio told scribes. "Yun na talaga siya. Given na para sa kanya yun. Matalino yung bata maglaro at kaya nang magdala ng team."
As usual, Jeric Teng was there to help Fortuna and Abdul by also chipping in 15 markers aside from posting six assists and four rebounds.
Mike Silungan paced UP with 19 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and five blocks while Gamboa and Paolo Romero added 18 and 11 markers, respectively, but the Maroons dropped to 2-6.
The scores: First Game
UST 77 — Abdul 21, Fortuna 15, Teng 13, Ferrer 8, Afuang 8, Lo 4, Camus 4, Sheriff 2, Pe 2, Vigil 0, Tan 0.
UP 70 — Silungan 19, Gamboa 18, Romero 11, Manuel 6, Maniego 5, Montecastro 3, Wong 2, Wierzba 2, Mbah 2, Gingerich 2, Fortu 0, Pascual 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0.
Quarters: 22-18; 38-33; 58-52; 77-70.
Source: mb.com.ph
