Tigers smother Warriors, close in on leaders

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas came through with an overpowering performance to run down a hapless University of the East side, 85-69, and move a step closer to league-leading Ateneo and Far Eastern U in the 75th UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Cameroonian Karim Abdul powered his way to 20 points and 19 rebounds while sophomore Kevin Ferrer had his best game of his young career with 16 points he highlighted with four triples to help propel the Tigers to their fourth straight victory against a defeat.

The win also moved UST half-a-game behind idle Ateneo, the reigning champion, and FEU, tied for the lead at 5-1.

And the Tigers did it without Jeric Teng, who sat out due to a strained knee, as they drew big games from second stringers Louie Vigil and Eduardo Dacquioag.

Vigil, who played high school ball for Jose Rizal, fired a career-high 13 points while Caquiaog scored all of his six points in one stretch in the second period when UST turned what was once a close contest into a rout.

“This is a breakout game for Ferrer, I’ve been waiting for that since last year,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio in Filipino. “The other guys who have limited time like Vigil and Daquioag also stepped up in the absence of Jeric and that helped us a lot.”

Earlier, La Salle leaned on rookie Jeron Teng and its defense late in the game to hold off Adamson, 56-52, and get back on track with a 3-3 card.

Teng led his team with 15 points, including a basket that gave the Archers the lead for good and a free throw that put away the Falcons.

La Salle coach Gee Abanilla said the injury to starting point guard LA Revilla, who tweaked an ankle in the first half, threw them off balanced.

“LA Revilla’s injury threw us off a bit, I hope it isn’t serious,” said Abanilla. “Good thing about it is that the rookies were given a chance to play and I think they perform really well.

“I hope they will perform better for us to do well in our future games,” he added.

Ryan Monteclaro led his team with 12 points but the Falcons missed main man Alex Nuyles, who will be out the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, that they couldn’t deliver when it mattered most. They fell to their fourth setback against a win.

Roider Cabrera gave Adamson a 52-51 lead with a little less than two minutes to go but the Falcons couldn’t score from there while Teng secured the victory with his clutch shooting.