Daquioag steers Tigers to Fr. Martin Cup semis

MANILA, Philippines – Ed Daquioag showed the way with 15 points as the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers got past the Jose Rizal University-A Heavy Bombers, 61-53, last Saturday in the quarterfinals of the   ongoing the 10th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament.

This enabled the Growling Tigers to advance to semifinals with the Lyceum Philippines University-A Pirates, the College of St. Benilde Blazers and the University of Perpetual Help-A Altas.

The Growling Tigers survived two scary moments as the Heavy Bombers managed to come close, but timely baskets from Louie Vigil and Kareem Abdul allowed UST to move out of reach on both occasions.

This put them in a semis showdown with the CSB Blazers, who held off the Joma Adornado-led Ateneo Blue Eagles, 73-70.

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa said the winner of the semifinals will advance to the finals on Saturday in this cagefest supported by Twin Towers Bakery.

The Blazers drew 17 points from Paolo Taha and 12 from Mark Romero as they arranged semis clash with Estong Ballesteros-coached Growling Tigers.

Abdulaziz Mbomiko struck with 24 points and Joseph Gabayni hit 14 for the Pirates, who outplayed the Mapua Cardinals, 80-73, and moved into a semis clash with the Altas.

Prince Eze and Juneric Baloria led with 15 and 14 points as the Altas outplayed the San Beda Red Lions, 72-62.

Vigil and Abdul made 10 points apiece, and their crucial baskets allowed UST to move after JRU threatened, 52-56, in the last 2:10, and 53-57, a minute later.

A four-point play from Shaq Alanes followed by a drive from Gabayni in the remaining 7:29 capped the Pirates’ decisive 10-0 in the fourth, and this allowed to get past a 58-all third quarter tie.

Taha scored on a winning layup in the last 16.7 seconds for the Blazers, and his basket came right as Blue Eagles scoring Jerie Pingoy misfired with triples twice in the dying seconds.