Tigers twit Eagles, share lead

MANILA, Philippines - Kevin Ferrer bucked fever and rifled in a career-high 27 points, including 11 in the fourth period, as University of Santo Tomas rallied past Ateneo, 68-58, to grab a share of the lead in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tourney yesterday at the MOA Arena.

Ferrer knocked down three of his six triples in the payoff period as he ignited a furious 26-6 assault that completed the Tigers’ fightback from 16 points down en route to their fourth victory in five outings and a tie with idle Far Eastern at the top.

The Eagles had their three-game streak snapped and fell to 3-2.

“He played sick pero nilabanan niya (but he overcame it). Nandyan talaga ang puso niya (He showed his heart in this game),” said UST coach Bong dela Cruz of Ferrer, who also had nine rebounds.

Facing a 36-52 deficit, the Tigers countered with a 6-0 blast to cut it to within 10 entering the final quarter. The Eagles were still up at the sixth-minute mark of the fourth, 57-46, before Ferrer helped unleash a telling 22-1 windup that turned the tables around.

“We were flat on defense in the first three quarters then Kevin led a huddle and the team responded to our defensive instructions,” said dela Cruz in Filipino.

The Tigers choked the Eagles to a woeful 1-of-17 shooting (5.88 percent) in the fourth while making eight of their 17 tries for 47.86 percent. UST also outrebounded AdMU, 16-12 and had five assists and two steals in the game-changing fourth.

Dela Cruz also lauded Mario Bonleon for his defense against AdMU top gun Kiefer Ravena, who was limited to a solitary point in the fourth for 13 overall.

Defending champion National U streaked to its third straight win against University of the Philippines, 68-52.

Gelo Alolino fired 16 points spiked by four triples while Alfred Aroga hauled down a season-high 22 rebounds as rejuvenated NU improved to an even 3-3.