Tigers pull out cage title in OT
October 2, 2006 | 419 views
WORDS: Reuben Ezra Terrado of Ubelt.com
For the UST Growling Tigers, repeating 96 at 69 was tough but sweet.Showing toughness and composure in the end game, the UAAP men's basketball crown returned to University of Santo Tomas after it took a hard and grinding road leading to a pulsating 76-74 overtime win over Ateneo De Manila last October 2 at the Araneta Coliseum in the winner-take-all fight for the title.Finals MVP Jojo Duncil lived up to the billing erupting for eight points in the overtime period for 18 points including the clutch hits to take the school's 19th crown in an exciting way.
"Si Jojo, parang ako yan noon," said the jubilant UST coach Jarencio. "Sabi ko kay Jojo nung overtime, magtake charge ka na dahil sayo ko na ibibigay yung bola.
"Nagpapasalamat ako kay coach na binigyan nya ako ng tiwala," said the 23-year-old Duncil. "Hindi ko rin inakala na mananalo ako ng MVP kaya masaya ako."
After burying two free throws, Duncil made it a three-point game putting back his own miss, and then converting a jumper off a pump fake, 72-69.
Duncil would then show nerves of steel with a fade away shot from the right corner to hold enough cushion to the Growling Tigers, 74-72, 43.4 seconds putting away Chris Tiu's effort of tying the game with a triple in the previous possession.
After JC Intal quickly tied the game again with a driving lay-up, it was the other Tigers that delivered with Dylan Ababou splitting a charity after grabbing a Jun Cortez missed triple and giving Tiu's fifth foul for a slim 75-74 lead.
The Blue Eagles had a chance to take the advantage but Intal did not convert on a runner. Ateneo totally lost another opportunity when Japs Cuan forced a jumpball with the possession arrow going their way.
Cortez split the charities after Eric Salamat's fifth foul for a 76-74 count, 3.7 seconds remaining. Ateneo had one final chance but a desperate triple by Jai Reyes from midcourt was an airball sending the UST faithful into a frenzy.
"Kami ang underdog sa series na ito," Jarencio said. "Kaya focus lang kami sa game at nandun ang puso at desire na manalo."
"Masarap magchampion lalo na kapag first year coach. Masakit na naman ulo ko dahil sa kakasigaw kanina," Jarencio said in jest.
Ababou contributed 13 points and eight rebounds while Jervy Cruz had nine points and 13 rebounds before fouling out.
Japs Cuan scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds but almost became the goat after an atrocious 4-of-12 shooting from the free throw line. "Given na yung free throws [of Cuan]," uttered Jarencio. "Destiny siguro naming magchampion. Kahit magmintis kami sa free throw, basta manalo kami, ok na."
The Blue Eagles looked headed to the victory in regulation after an Intal three-point play sent Cruz to the bench with his fifth foul and held a 64-59 edge with 1:17 left in the fourth. But Anthony Espiritu and Mark Canlas tied it with their humongous efforts. Espiritu hit a triple from the key and Canlas scored a putback with 37.3 ticks in regulation, 64-all.
"Sabi ko sa kanila, huwag silang bibitaw at trabahuin natin yung panalo. Mabuti nalang nung nakastop kami, nakashoot naman kami," said Jarencio, on that fourth quarter comeback.
It was a sweet victory for UST, a squad which many thought would not reach this far in the tournament. Basketball observers even put the Tigers out of the Final Four picture after amassing a 2-5 record after seven games. But UST, with Jarencio's three Ps (puso, palaban, and pride) and a care-free attitude towards his players, came back from the grave winning four of its last five games to enter the semifinals.
"Naging turning point yung after the first game ng second round," noted Jarencio. "Nag-adjust ako nung hindi kami nananalo sa takbuhan kaya nagshift kami sa deliberate offense."
Being the third seeded team in the semifinals was not a problem for the Tigers as it disintegrated University of the East's twice-to-beat advantage with two closely-fought victories (79-75, 82-81) in the Final Four.
"Hindi lang ako ang team na ito," disclosed Jarencio. "Kaya nagpapasalamat rin ako sa mga assistant coaches ko."
Macky Escalona led the Blue Eagles with 28 points, three assists, and two steals while Tiu came away with 13 markers and nine boards. Kramer had a nine-point, nine-rebound performance.
Intal had 16 points in the game but struggled with his shots making only 4-of-18, including crucial misses in the waning moments of the game which Jarencio attributed to good one-on-one defense by Ababou.
"They deserve the title," said Ateneo coach Norman Black in congratulating the Growling Tigers. "They played very well and showed that they are the hungier team.
After a 17-15 first quarter, Ateneo pulled away as free throws - three from Escalona, one from Intal, and six by Tiu - made the count 27-19. During the latter part of the second quarter, the Blue Eagles used a "Hack-a-Japs" tactic to give the shaven skulled Cuan a trip to the free throw line in an effort to distract him from the game. It worked as Ateneo built a six-point margin, 37-31, at halftime.
Third quarter came and the Growling Tigers mounted a comeback. Duncil scored the last six points of a furious 12-0 run putting UST ahead, 43-37. Ateneo kept it close with an Escalona basket and a Kramer split charity trip that trimmed the deficit to one, 51-50, to end the period.
For Ateneo, it was a heartbreaking loss for a team that went 8-0 and finished the eliminations on top with a 10-2 slate.
"I feel very bad for my players more for myself," said Black. "I really want to win for them. But I have to be realistic that only one team could win the championship."
"I'm proud of my players for giving their best. But unfortunately, we came up short," Black also said, who will be leaving the following day for Toronto for a basketball camp.
Ateneo took Game 1 with a buzzer beating short stab by Kramer, 73-72, before UST won Game 2, 87-71, to put the series in a deadlock.
NOTES: Only two players will leave the Espana crew (Allan Evangelista and the injured Jemal Vizcarra) while Ateneo will lose three of its biggest names after the season (Intal, Escalona, Kramer).... Espiritu escaped suspension in this game after two unsportsmanlike fouls was called on him in Game 2. He was only given a stern warning.... UST won the game despite shooting only 21-of-39 free throws against Ateneo's 23-of-29 numbers.... The 2006 Tigers is the third number three seeded team to win the championship. The others were the 1994 Tigers and the 2002 Blue Eagles.... The last time UST won the men's basketball championship was in 1996 after sweeping De La Salle in the finals. Prior to this, their last appearance in the finals was in 1999, also against the Green Archers.... Before the series, only four teams have gone on to win the championship after losing Game 1. UST did it on two occasions (1994 and 1995) .... The past two championships have been won by rookie coaches - Jarencio this year, and FEU's Bert Flores last year.
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COMMENTS
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safecracker Oct 07 2006 @ 04:20pm Report Abuseohh how i love the tigers growl.. well well well good JOB men.. hale to all tomasians...but one thing for sure.... blue eagles are the good looking athletes ever!!!! dont complain dahil totoo un.. mas maraming gwapo ang mga agila.....
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gwapo nga sila puro mga wala naman binatbat sa bangis ng tigers...HAHAHA
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