MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas-Ironcon Builders proved too strong against Lyceum-Uratex, scoring a 92-79 rout at the start of the MBL Open basketball tournament at Lyceum gym last Tuesday.
Jeric Teng fired a game-high 21 points, including three triples, as he bucked the double-teaming defense put up by the Pirates.
Clark Bautista, Aljohn Mariano and 6-8 Cameroonian recruit Karin Abdul backed Teng by combining for 37 points.
“He’ll really be an asset to the team. He’s young and a fast-learner,” said Jarencio of his Cameroonian recruit.
Allen Difontorum carried the fight for the Pirates, scoring 19 points, including five triples, while John Foronda and Fritz Gerald Ong added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
UST-Ironcon raced to an early 31-11 lead after the first quarter behind Teng, Bautista and Abdul. But the hosts fought back in the next three quarters and came to within, 64-72, early in the fourth.
But Teng hit a shot-clock beating triple, sparking another Tigers’ run that scuttled the Pirates’ comeback.