UST Growling Tigers finished their first game in UAAP Season 75 with a loss versus FEU Tamaraws at yesterday’s game, July 14, 2012, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The Tigers owned the first three quarters, but a crucial turnover from Jeric Fortuna and a score from FEU’s Ryan Garcia ended the game at 73-72.
Abdul scored the first two points and the team kept the game on their side with a 6-0 score. At 5:41 of the first quarter, scores got tied at 8 points but Abdul managed to bring the lead to UST with a free throw. Jeric Teng shot a clean 3-point, bringing the team’s score from 11 to 14. A slam dunk from Abdul drove mad the big crowd of an audience the venue had. During the quarter, Tamaraw Anthony Hargrove proved to be a good offensive player, with a 3-point score for their team.
Second quarter had more action as Tamaraw Terrence Romeo he gets past through defenses. But the Tigers kept the game with Fortuna managing to keep the ball albeit FEU catching up with him as he brings the ball down their court in the first few minutes of the quarter. FEU started to gain lead at 28-25 as Garcia scored with three points. Returning Tiger Aljon Mariano scored 2 points afterwards then assisted Abdul to cut their opponent’s lead to 1 point and another shot helped the team top FEU’s score. He also managed to make continuous points, upping the lead of the Tigers.
Teng was heavily guarded by the Tamaraws halfway through the third quarter but he still did a 3-point shot. Clark Bautista also made a 3-point shot, giving the Tigers their most lead in the game, 56-44. FEU’s Arvie Bringas lessened UST’s lead by scoring amidst a tight defense given by the Tigers but Teng scored another 3 points at 1:25 of the quarter.
But all the efforts of the Tigers in previous quarters were answered by the 23 points FEU made in the fourth quarter. Bringas was a threat to UST’s scoring machine Abdul by heavily guarding him. Romeo even managed to smoothly steal the ball from Abdul. With FEU continually scoring 3 points gave them the lead at 64-63. Abdul was able to tie the scores at 65. During 1:04 of the quarter, Teng did yet another 3-point shot, giving UST a lead at 72-69. The Tigers hanged on a 1-point lead at 72-71, 31.6 seconds remaining for the game. After holding on the ball, Fortuna made a turnover, giving FEU a chance to score. Mariano tried a shot for the Tigers but missed and the time expired.
Quarter scores: 21-18, 37-31, 60-50, 72-73.
Tigers’ scores: Abdul 24, Teng 18, Mariano 10, Bautista 7, Fortuna 6, Afuang 5, Ferrer 2, Vigil 0, Pe 0, Lo 0, Daquioag 0.
By Miguel Villon
Photo by Jenzine Alcantara
