Ferrer lifts Tigers over Tams

MANILA, Philippines -- Kevin Ferrer stepped up at the right time as University of Santo Tomas pulled off a thrilling 69-67 victory over Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 77 men's basketball tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

Ferrer scored eight of his 18 points in the payoff period including two crucial triples in the last three minutes of the game.

Karim Abdul and seldom used Kent Lao added 16 and 14 points, respectively, for the España-based squad.

"Nag-prepare talaga kami for this game. Na-execute yung game plan namin and nag-deliver yung mga bata. Napag usapan namin yung mistakes last game and now pinakita nila pano maglaro ang Tigers," said UST Coach Bong Dela Cruz.

"Yung pressure andiyan na yan lalo nung natalo last game kaya we're happy na nakuha na yung unang panalo," he added.

FEU raced to a quick 8-0 blast capped by Mac Belo's two free throws to start the final canto and took a 58-53 advantage at the 5:51 mark.

Ferrer stopped the bleeding with a floater followed by a baseline jumper from Lao to inch within one, 58-57 at the 4:36 mark of the payoff period.

"Sinabi ko sa kanila di pa tapos yung laro. Ituloy namin yung intensity at lalo pa dagdagan. Huwag kami mag-relax kahit ano mangyari," Ferrer told his teammates when they were facing defeat for the second time this season.

Staring at a 59-62 deficit late in the fourth quarter and the momentum shifted to FEU, the outcome looked bleak for the Tigers. But Abdul scored on a crucial putback that set up the two triples of Ferrer to give UST a 67-62 lead with 1:57 remaining.

Russel Escoto quickly answered with a corner triple to cut the deficit, 65-67, to the delight of the FEU faithful.

Lao came up with a gem when he scored off a broken play for an open lay-in to give UST a 69-65 lead with 19.5 ticks left then Mike Tolomia failed to convert on two three-point attempts before Mac Belo scored a hook shot to beat the buzzer for the final score.

"Gulat din ako basta grinab ko lang yung opportunity na binigay ni coach and made the most out of it nag focus lang talaga ako," said Lao who scored his career-high in this game.

Belo paced the Tamarraws with 19 points while Tolomia scored 14 markers, FEU fell to 1-1 card to tie UST.