Tigers deal Tams 4th harrowing loss

MANILA, Philippines - Karim Abdul delivered on both ends in the clutch as University of Santo Tomas pounded out a 79-78 double overtime victory over a skidding Far Eastern U to remain in the Final Four hunt in the UAAP Season 76 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Abdul converted a three-point play and came up with a huge block on Mark Belo’s potential game-winning triple attempt a couple of plays later to cap his heroics and help secure win No. 6 for the Tigers against five losses.

The Tigers, who continued to play without Jeric Teng, vaulted back into the upper rung of the standings in a share of fourth and fifth with either Ateneo or La Salle.

On the other hand, the Tams absorbed their fourth loss in five games in the second round for 8-4 overall, losing grip of the top spot for the first time this season and settling for No. 2 behind idle National U (8-3).

“It’s all the players. They didn’t give up, they showed the desire and the heart that I was looking for in the past games,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio.

The Tigers trailed throughout the first two periods and the early stages of the third, falling behind by as many as 12. But the resilient Tigers clawed their way back and even led by seven, 56-49, before the Tams wrested control and seized a 62-59 cushion with 7.4 ticks left in regulation.

Aljon Mariano, though, hit a big trey that knotted the count and eventually forced overtime. UST faced the same predicament in the first extra period and turned to Clark Bautista’s trey for the equalizer.

“Mababa ang morale namin so ito ay big boost para sa team at sa standing namin (This not only lifted our morale, which was low due to previous losses and injuries to key players, but also boosted our bid to climb up the standings),” said Jarencio, taking this as an “advanced birthday gift” on Sept. 5.

Abdul banged in 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds plus two blocks to lead three Thomasians with double-double efforts. Mariano had a near triple double of 21 markers, 11 boards and eight assists as Kevin Ferrer wound up with 15 points and 13 caroms.

Terrence Romeo fired 19 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists with Belo adding 15 markers and 14 boards and Gryann Mendoza chipping in 13 points.

For the second straight game, the Tams tried in vain to post their ninth win and gain at least a playoff for a semis berth.

“We’ll just have to focus on the idea na yung (that our) destiny namin is still in our hands and ang goal namin (our goal) is still within reach,” said FEU coach Nash Racela.