Couple gets engaged while UST survives FEU in double OT
This one was ugly, but riveting. And by the time it was over, a UST fan was already engaged after popping the question to his girlfriend during the game.
After an age of basketball, UST emerged as winners in Sunday's curtain-raising clash in the Smart Araneta Coliseum, edging FEU 79-78 after fifty minutes of offense that was, statistically, mostly offensive.
FEU managed just 33.3% from the field (32 from 96) while the Tigers were barely better, mustering only 35.9%.
It was not a great day for the three point snipers either, as UST hit just four of 23 for a 17.4% clip. The Tams were exactly one-tenths of a percentage point better, connecting on just seven of their forty hoists from beyond the arc.
It gets worse. Neither team could buy a shot from the 4.5 meter line. FEU shot seven of thirteen for 53.8% while Santo Tomas saw just 19 of their 34 attempts swish. Both Aljon Mariano and Kevin Ferrer went 3 of 8 from the line. Ferrer nervously jerked two late free throws straight into the back of the rim late in regulation and was saved only by Mariano's last-gasp trey that sent the game into overtime.
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But these unsightly numbers will be forgotten, because, as the score suggests, it was one heck of a game with no shortage of twists, turns, about-faces, runs, and other sundry incidents. There were two late reviews in the overtimes, one on Mike Tolomia's potential winner in the first OT that was correcly disallowed, and another to determine if Mark Belo or Kevin Ferrer had touched a ball last when it went out of bounds.
Karim Abdul was UST's pillar of strength. His and-one late in the second extension helped solidify the victory, while his swat on Belo's three pointer at the buzzer sealed it.
“When I saw Belo take the shot, I remembered Ed Daquioag trying to block Roi Sumang in a game against UE earlier in the season” mused Abdul after the game.
The big Cameroonian wound up with 24 points on 8 for 18 from the field with twelve rebounds, second only to Ferrer's thirteen. His erasure on Belo was the second of a pair of blocks in the game.
Complementing Abdul were Ferrer and Mariano, who both double-doubled on points and rebounds. They more than made up for the absence of the injured Jeric Teng, who dressed but was not fielded by Pido Jarencio.
Terrence Romeo was FEU's top scorer and his nineteen points is pretty on paper. But look closely and you'll see that he misfired on thirteen of his three-point heaves. He'll need to perform better if FEU are to be a title threat this season.
Mark Belo was a stud for FEU with fifteen points and fourteen rebounds to lead all players. His six points in the second OT showed how determined he was to win this game. Belo attacked the basket the way his namesake Vicki attacks subcutaneous fat with her liposuction treatments.
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The Tamaraws went 7-0 in the first round, but the second half of the season has exposed them as a flawed team that may not be ready yet for a title.
Romeo is an awesome scorer but doesn't have the court sense of Kiefer Ravena. FEU also lacks the dominant big man that UST and NU are fortunate to have. Anthony Hargrove delivered just six points on 3 for 8 shooting. Hampered by foul trouble early, he played just fifteen minutes as his indifferent season continues.
Christian Sentcheu had little to show for his eighteen minutes of burn, contributing only two points and two blocks.
Far Eastern is now out of first place for the first time this season. At 8-4 they are a half-game behind the idle Bulldogs. The Tams will easily make the Final Four since they play Adamson and UP next. But the twice-to-beat advantage, once thought to be a shoo-in, is not certain anymore.
FEU could have won their third straight OT game in eight days, which surely would have been some kind of record, but it wasn't to be.
UST gets its nose above .500 again (6-5) and is tied with Ateneo.
Meanwhile, two UST fans, Whamos Del Rosario and Arcie Abin, got engaged during the game (see photo). Whamos proposed during the break between the third and fourth periods when a friend of his held out a sign that said "Arcie, will you watch UAAP with Whamos kahit 80 na kayo?"
Of course, she said yes to loud cheers from the UST crowd.
While the couple may have everlasting love, the Tigers' good vibes might not last as long. DLSU and Ateneo remain on their schedule. Jarencio will welcome Jeric Teng back soon with open arms.
It's a handsome win for the Growling Tigers, as they came from as many as twelve points down to rally for victory. Ferrer's performance looks even better considering that he sprained an ankle in practice yesterday. Said Jarencio jokingly “uminom siya ng dalawampung Arcoxia at dalawampung Celebrex. Sumakit yung tiyan niya pero at least 'di na sumakit ang paa.”
But for UST, winning is the best medicine. With the league wide-open once again, The Tigers just might ride the momentum back to the finals.
Follow Bob @bhobg333.
