Ababou, Mirza and Teng scored 23, 22 and 22 each – the first time in the season that three players from one team finished with more than 20 markers – to overcome UP’s aggressive start and give UST its fourth win in seven matches.
“Mas maganda na natapos ang first round namin na may panalo, at least may pondo na kami going into the second round," said UST assistant coach Cenen Duenas who talked to the media in lieu of Tigers' mentor Pido Jarencio who needed to rest after his blood pressure shot up during the game.
UP started strong and immediately took a double-figure lead in the first half and even posted a 60-46 lead at the start of the third period.
Nabubuo kasi ang kumpiyansa ko 'pag nakikita kong buo ang loob ng mga beterano namin, kaya maganda ang inilaro ko ngayon.
But Ababou’s only three-point shot in the match ignited a scorching UST rally that UP failed to contain and the Growling Tigers took a 76-66 lead before the third canto ended.
The Fighting Maroons, with Woody Co and point guard Miguel Reyes at the firing end, erased that double-digit deficit and closed in at 87-75 on a three-pointer by wingman Martin Reyes.
Co finished with 23 points to lead UP’s scoring.
Ababou, who fouled out after being whistled on an offensive foul with 1:19 left, started another rally with Mirza ending the blitz with one of his three treys to give UST breathing room at 91-85 with just 38.3 seconds left.
“We started slow, pero nagpapasalamat ako kina Dylan (Ababou) at Khazim (Mirza) dahil talagang nagpursigi sila na makabangon kami," added Duenas regarding how the two UST veterans lifted the Tigers out of a possible defeat.
Scores:
UST 95 – Ababou 23, Teng 22, Mirza 22, Camus 8, Bautista 7, Fortuna 4, Afuang 3, Maliksi 2, Green 1.
UP 85 – Co 23, Reyes, Miguel 21, Reyes, Martin 17, Sison 8, Padilla 8, Lopez 3, Braganza 3, Gomez 2, Maniego 0, Juruena 0, De Asis 0.
Quarter scores: 21-31; 44-51; 76-68; 95-85.
“Tapos nandiyan pa si Jeric (Teng) na kahit rookie ay malaki ang nai-ambag."
“Hindi kasi puwedeng sa kanila (rookies) manggaling ang confidence dapat sa aming mga beterano kaya nagpursigi kami ni Mirza," said Ababou, who also had seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.
“Nung nai-shoot ko yong tres, ang feeling ko ako si coach (Jarencio), walang hesitation," said Mirza, who studied under former league hotshot Allan Caidic's Accel 3-point Challenge Shooting Academy.
Teng and Mirza combined for UST’s six three-point shots. Teng also grabbed eight rebounds while Mirza had nine boards.
“Nabubuo kasi ang kumpiyansa ko 'pag nakikita kong buo ang loob ng mga beterano namin, kaya maganda ang inilaro ko ngayon," said Teng, son of former PBA star Alvin Teng.
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