Tigers win sans Teng, beat Warriors 88-77

MANILA, Philippines – The UST Growling Tigers survived without Jeric Teng to bounce back with an 88-77 win against the UE Red Warriors Saturday in the UAAP Season 76 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Without Teng, who suffered a shoulder injury in UST's loss to NU, three Tigers picked up the slack registering career-high in points.

Karim Abdul exploited the absence of Charles Mammie with 25 points and 13 boards while Aljon Mariano finally had his breakout game with 24 points after totaling only 20 points in the Tigers' first three games.

Ed Daquioag was superb off the bench coming through with 19 points as Pido Jarencio's three-headed Tiger attack walloped the Mammie-less Warrriors.

Despite the absence of Mammie, who served a one-game suspension for flagrant foul infraction, UE was still able to keep in step until the final three minutes.

Do-it-all playmaker Roi Sumang hit 20 of his 21 points in the second half to keep the Warriors in the game.

UE was trailing by only two, 74-76, when UST went to Abdul, Mariano and Daquioag, who took turns in a 12-3 windup.

UST improved to 3-1 while UE suffered its third setback against a lone victory.