MANILA (PNA) — The University Of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers relied on a late 4th quarter assault to defeat the De La Salle Green Archers, 73-72, in their Game One Showdown of the UAAP Season 76 Finals Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
The Growling Tigers are now one win away from a UAAP title after taking a commanding 1-0 lead over the Green Archers, they also snapped the latter’s nine game winning streak bridging the Second Round and the Semifinals.
Kevin Ferrer top scored the Espana-based squad after finishing with 20 points to go along with six rebounds, including an impressive 5-of-8 shooting from rainbow country while Karim Adbul wreaked havoc in the paint after posting a double double job of 19 points and twelve rebounds.
King Tiger Jeric Teng provided some key baskets and finished with 17 points and seven rebounds.
The Growling Tigers held a four-point lead, 70-66, with 1:38 left in the 4th quarter, but it was quickly erased by Arnold Van Opstal who made his two charities and Jeron Teng splitting his own to narrow the gap to one,70-69 with 1:03 minutes remaining in the contest.
However, Kevin Ferrer fired a dagger trey that brought back UST’s lead to four,73-69 but Jeron Teng retaliated with an and one play to cut the lead to one,73-72 with 29 ticks left.
In their next possession, Aljon Mariano committed a turnover after mishandling Kevin Ferrer’s pass that opened the door for the Green Archers to open.
Fortunately, Almond Vosotross misfired his wide open corner three point attempt, L.A Revilla tried to score via daredevil drive but Karim Abdul blocked his attempt as time expired.
Almond Vosotross paced the Archers with 20 points while Jeron Teng added 15 points in a losing effort.
The scores:
UST 73: Ferrer 20, Abdul 19, Teng 17, Sheriff 6, Daquioag 4, Bautista 3, Mariano 2, Lao 2, Pe 0, Lo 0
DLSU 72: Vosotros 20, Teng 15, Van Opstal 13, Perkins 11, T Torres 7, Revilla 4, N Torres 2, Tampus 0, Reyes 0, Montalbo 0, De La Paz 0.