RP team mainstay Jervy Cruz dished out a double-double job of 21 points and a game-high 15 rebounds as University of Santo Tomas stunned back-to-back NCAA champion San Beda, 88-84, yesterday to barge into the semifinal round of the Fil-Oil/Flying V Collegiate Champions League at the Arena in San Juan.
Cruz, who came all the way from a team building session with the Nationals in Tagaytay to join the Tigers, outclassed his defenders, including the 6-8 Sam Ekwe, to power the Tigers, the 2006 UAAP champions, to the stirring come-from-behind win and into the Final Four.
“He really wanted to play. I’m glad he played,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio of the 6-4 UAAP MVP.
The win thus kept UST’s title hopes in the tournament with the Tigers facing the winner between Ateneo and Jose Rizal in the semifinal round.
San Beda, which kept its top players from joining the SEA Games-bound RP squad to prepare for this tournament, actually appeared headed for a runaway victory when it raced to a 70-61 lead late in the third quarter.
But the Tigers clamped down on defense, forcing the Red Lions to a series of turnovers in the final quarter with Cruz and Dylan Ababou, who fired 13 of his 17 points in the second half, taking over on the offensive end.
University of Visayas, meanwhile, smothered University of Mindanao, 78-58, to likewise advance to the semis against the winner of the quarterfinal match pitting STI and Far Eastern U.
“We capitalized on our strengths. I think we have a deeper bench,” said Lancers mentor Boy Cabahug.
Ritchum Dennison paced the Lancers for the second straight time with 16 points while 6-7 Rino Berame churned out a double-double performance of 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Fil-Am Greg Slaughter, UV’s 6-9 center and a work in progress for RP team, struggled for two points but came through with three shot blocks, two rebounds and two assists.