UST stuns La Salle (for Aug 11)

Like It’s 1999, Tigers Take A Bite Out Of Archers

Shakedown 1999. It was in that year the last time University of Santo Tomas won against De La Salle University in a UAAP men’s basketball game. And with the way the Growling Tigers came back from the dead and won, 81-73, it was slightly reminiscent of what occurred in the third game of the finals of that same year.

From 12 points down, 57-69, 1:57 left in the game, UST coach Pido Jarencio called for time to settle his boys down and plan one last attack.

“Simple naman sinabi ko sa mga bata,” Jarencio recalled during that huddle. “Down by 12 tayo. Masaya iyan.”

Lifted up and challenged by the situation, Dylan Ababou and Anthony Espiritu sniffed for Ferdinand’s two last fouls, making all their freethrows, 61-69, 1:15. After Ty Tang aired a three-pointer, Espiritu converted a three-point play off Tang, :48.9 in regulation.

With barely more than a second after the ball was put into play, Tang got the goat by being whistled for an offensive foul at the backcourt. With a page coming from the Dino Aldeguer miracle playbook, Khasim Mirza stroked one from the summit of the arc, the lead just down to two, 67-69, with still 40 and some seconds in the clock.

Nevertheless, what sent the game into overtime was a Cortez fade off from the side, caroming his own miss, :06.7 to go.

“Up to the last possession, basta consistent at pursigido tayo,” Jarencio told the elated media in the post-game interview.

And the fairy tale does not end in to be continued, as the Tigers scored 12 points in the extra five minutes to wrap up the win and slay the ghost that has haunted them since last millennium.

Not counting the forfeited games DLSU served as part of its penalty for negligence, the last match the Archers lost to Santo Tomas was the first game of the finals on September 30, 1999 at the Philsports Arena, 60-62. That screeched to a halt a 17-game losing streak to one team for the USTe.

“Wala akong pakialam sa talo ng nakaraan,” Jarencio shared. “Natalo ako first round, babawi ako.”

Mirza was co-topscorer with 16 points. Ababou had a double-double with 15 and ten with two assists, four steals, and six errors. Espiritu made 14 and two blocks.

“Sino pa ba aasahin natin?” the witty mentor said of his three play-alike forwards. “Kahit papaano nakakabantay sila ng big man. May quickness pa.”

Jervy Cruz was his old usual self with 16 points, going 6/6 at the freethrow, 18 rebounds, and season-high seven blocks.

JVee Casio led De La Salle with 20 points, making four field goals from the three-point area. Cholo Villanueva missed a double-double with 15 and nine boards along with four steals.

The España-based squad milked the green and white for 36 fouls and 49 freethrows attempts, just two less than its tries in the two-point field, making 29. The Tigers also had 64 rebounds and 12 blocks.

“Wala pa. Pa-arangkada pa lang,” is how Jarencio sees his team.

The black, gold, and white ties the vanquished with a 5-3 standing with University of the Philippines next on tap.

“Basta kami walang mahina, walang malakas,” Jarencio said.