Tigers rap Lions for 1st final slot

Games tomorrow (The Arena, San Juan City)

2 p.m. – UST vs SWU

4 p.m. – Ateneo vs San Beda

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas hung tough at endgame to edge reigning NCAA champion San Beda, 63-60, yesterday and clinch the first finals berth in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at The Arena in San Juan City.

Aljon Mariano erupted for a team-high 16 points, spearheading the Tigers’ fightback in the second half which they controlled before the España-based squad outsteadied the NCAA three-peat champions in the stretch.

“Ang sarap ng pakiramdam na makapasok sa finals, mas masarap siguro kung mag-champion pa kami, (It’s a nice feeling making the finals, but it would be better if we win the championship),” said UST coach Pido Jarencio, whose chargewere swept by the Ateneo Eagles in the recent UAAP finals.

The victory thus sent the Tigers, who earlier got back at the Eagles, 76-66, Wednesday, to the finals of the annual event among the country’s leading collegiate teams.

They go for a sweep of the round-robin semis against the winless Southwestern U Cobras tomorrow.

Ateneo stayed in the hunt for another crown after demolishing SWU, 96-78, in the first game, tying San Beda at 1-1 and making the Eagles-Red Lions duel tomorrow a knockout match for the second finals berth.

The UST-SWU game is set at 2 p.m. while Ateneo and San Beda dispute the other championship slot at 4 p.m.

Jeric Teng, coming off a 22-point explosion against Ateneo the last time out, had 12 points while Cameroonian  Karim Abdul followed up his 15-point effort with a 12-point performance.

Diminutive playmaker Jeric Fortuna struggled for four points but made up for this by snaring 12 rebounds against taller, heftier rivals.

The Lions, who nipped the Cobras, 73-72, last Wednesday, dominated the Tigers in the early going, posting a 25-15 lead after 10 minutes and holding on to a 39-35 advantage at the turn.

But the Tigers stepped on the gas at resumption while holding San Beda’s gunners with a resolute defense to seize control.

Seven-footer Greg Slaughter imposed his will against the Southern champions and came away with 18 points on an impressive nine-of-13 shooting clip while Kiefer Ravena dazzled the opposition with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds.