Tigers rally again, trip Falcons

MANILA, Philippines - Santo Tomas weaved its comeback magic again as it rallied to edge Adamson, 61-60, to seize a share of the lead with defending champion Ateneo in the 75th UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Aljon Mariano came alive in the third quarter as the Tigers clawed their way back and Cameroonian banger Karim Abdul and Jeric Fortuna took charge in the stretch to help the Tigers snatch the win from the jaws of fate.

Although UST ended up tied with Ateneo atop the heap on 6-1 (win-loss) slates, the España-based dribblers emerged with a 73-72 win over the latter in their first round meeting a month back.

That was one of the many victories the Tigers had pulled off coming from behind after their lone loss to Far Eastern U on opening day when they blew what could have been an easy win.

After that loss, the Tigers were unbeatable as they won the rest of their first round assignments to zoom to the top.

Mariano scored all his 12 points in the third quarter as UST whittled down Adamson’s 11-point deficit before Fortuna and Abdul scored UST’s last five points to complete the dramatic fightback.

UST coach Pido Jarencio said it’s the culture of not giving up that helped them steal this one from Adamson.

“That attitude of not giving up until there is time is what has saved us all these times,” said Jarencio in Filipino. “It showed that my players are getting mentally tougher especially in this kind of situation.”

Eric Camson, who finished with a career-high 19 points including three conversions from beyond the arc, had a chance to snatch back the win but his attempt was deflected as time expired.

It was a double black-eye for Camson, whose poor pacing sidelined him for more than two minutes in the stretch due to cramps, hastening the Falcons’ downfall.

“We still end up lucky, we’re really fortunate we got that break in the end,” said Jarencio, referring to Camson’s cramps at endgame.

The Falcons fell to their sixth loss against a win.

In the second game, State U leaned on rookie Henry Asilum’s heroics as it downed University of the East, 63-48, for its first win that also ended a long 15-game losing skid since last season.

Asilum, a 15-year-old former Energen Pilipinas and Sacred Heart of Cebu standout, finished with a career high 14 points he spiked with four rebounds, three assists and two steals to help propel the Maroons to victory.

“I hope this win gives sunshine to torrential rains and dark days at UP,” said UP coach Ricky Dandan.

“My rookie (Asilum) here showed tonight (yesterday) the future of our backcourt in UP.

“He’s turning 16 and if he has a weakness, its his age,” he added.