Tigers rip unbeaten Eagles

Games tomorrow (The Arena, San Juan)

9 a.m. – FEU vs Mapua (Jrs)

10:45 p.m. – NU vs Lyceum (W)

12:45 p.m. – SWU vs San Sebastian (Srs)

2:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs Letran (Srs)

4:15 p.m. – Arellano U vs UP (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines - UST rode on the clutch baskets by Aljon Mariano and Kevin Ferrer as the Tigers erased a four-point deficit in the last two minutes to stun erstwhile unbeaten Ateneo, 63-57, in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Mariano rattled off six straight points down the stretch to shove the Tigers on top then Ferrer knocked in a buzzer-beating triple off a Jeric Teng feed to break the backs of the Eagles and post their first win in two starts.

“We just kept on fighting even though we had a really bad start,” said Mariano in Filipino.

It was a big bounce-back win by the Tigers, who dropped a 67-73 loss to the La Salle Archers in last week’s opener in a game they controlled majority of the way.

The loss was Ateneo’s first after streaking to a 3-0 start despite playing with a depleted roster.

The Eagles actually went on attack mode early, got stymied in the third in the face of the Tigers’ roaring comeback but regained their composure late in the game behind sensational Fil-Am rookie Chris Newsome, who scored six points in a row to give Ateneo a 57-53 lead.

But Mariano took over and pumped in UST’s next six points before Teng, who struggled in offense after a fiery 31-point effort the first time out, drove and drew defenders before flipping a pass to an open Ferrer on the side for that triple.

Earlier, Adamson surprised Far Eastern U, 68-67, as sophomore Don Trollano hit two free throws with 17.4 seconds left and the Falcons made the key stops in the end to secure the win.

“He’s the best free throw shooter on this team,” said Adamson mentor Leo Austria.

FEU’s Roger Pogoy’s inbound pass hit the rim, resulting in a furious looseball scuffle with Terrence Romeo picking up the leather then heaving a desperation shot that failed to hit its mark.

Adamson paraded 19-year-old Cameroonian Ingrid Sewa, who debuted with 12 points, including nine bridging the last two quarters, giving Adamson a 50-44 cushion.