Tigers pull off another squeaker over Falcons

MANILA, Philippines – University of Santo Tomas survived another tough outing against Adamson, winning by the skin of its teeth, 61-59, to break a three-game slump Saturday at the start of the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Louie Vigil drained a jumper to give the Tigers a 60-59 lead with 1:51 left then Aljon Mariano grabbed three crucial offensive rebounds and made a split free throw with 7.3 seconds to go to secure their fourth victory in eight games.

“Iyung Adamson, they played very good defense. Yung zone nila nag-click sa amin, hindi kami maka-convert ng outside shots, hindi kami makapag-penetrate. Good thing, nung huli, si Aljon naka-offensive rebounds,” said UST coach Bong dela Cruz, whose wards also struggled in a hard-earned 50-49 squeaker over the winless Falcons in the first round.

Adamson had a chance to steal the win but William Polician overshot a 3-point attempt from the corner at the buzzer. 

The Tigers shot a measly 5-of-28 (17.86 percent) from the three-point area and 23-of-70 overall (32.86 percent).

They missed their last four attempts in the crunch but hauled down the offensive board each time, with Mariano accounting for three of those.

“Medyo hindi kami maka-shoot outside so kung saan na lang ako makatulong para manalo,” said Mariano, who had 12 caroms, half of them off the offensive glass, to go with seven points.

Louie Vigil led UST with 13 markers, eight boards and two assists while Ed Daquiaog added 11 points and two steals.

Karim Abdul, who was hospitalized this week for viral infection and dehydration, suited up for four and a half minutes in the third and accounted for two points and one rebound.

“Gusto naming ma-feel ni Karim yung game, in case kailanganin namin siya sa endgame,” said Dela Cruz.

The Falcons enjoyed a 56-52 lead early in the fourth and 59-58 at the half way mark of the payoff period before the Tigers turned the game around.

“Kailangan nang manalo kami kasi second round na, nasa baba pa kami, kailangan naming kumuha ng panalo at umakyat,” said Mariano.

Jansen Rios and Don Trollano fired 22 and 16, respectively for AdU, which absorbed its eighth straight loss. Vince Hizon called the shots for the second game in the absence of coach Kenneth Duremdes, who is attending to family matters abroad.