Foul trouble, poor start did us in - Jarencio
A flat start coupled with early foul woes.
University of Santo Tomas Pido Jarencio said these two factors did the Growling Tigers in as they suffered a 70-77 defeat against the fast-starting La Salle Green Archers Saturday in Game 2 of their UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball finals at the overflowing Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“Hindi namin ma-stop ‘yung mga bigs nila inside,” Jarencio, 49, lamented, referring to the Green Archers’ big 57-39 edge in rebounding and 12-point advantage in second chance points.
After teaming up for just 24 points and 22 rebounds in the opener won by UST 73-72 last Wednesday, the prized troika of 6-foot-7 center Arnold Van Opstal, 6-foot-6 Norbert Torres and 6-foot-4 but wide-bodied rookie Jason Perkins redeemed themselves as they combined for 36 points and 30 rebounds, half of them coming on the offensive end.
The early foul trouble that hounded prized import Karim Abdul, who incurred his second personal foul at the 4:17 mark of the first canto, threw the Tigers off and enabled the Archers to make a big headway, leading by as many as 36-19.
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“Maganda yung first quarter nila (Archers) tapos ang sama ng start namin. Si Karim, masyadong maaga na-foul trouble. Dalawa agad. Tapos ayun, nagkawendang-wendang na,” Jarencio stressed.
Graduating skipper Jeric Teng emerged as the lone bright spot with 28 points but no other Tiger, notably Game 1 hero Kevin Ferrer, was able to provide an ample lift. The lanky 6-foot-4 Ferrer, who sizzled with 20 points, spiked by five treys, in the opener, only had six markers in six limited attempts.
“Kontrolado eh,” was all Ferrer could say of his miserable outing.
For his part, Jarencio said: “Nagre-relax kasi siya. Dapat pumupunta siya sa bola. Humahanap ng open spots. ‘Yung defense rin kasi ng kalaban naka-cover sa kanya. Stay home lang sa kanya.”
Although the momentum has shifted back to La Salle going into their rubber match next Saturday at the MOA Arena, Jarencio remains unfazed, stressing: “Hindi naman kami do-or-die kanina. Buhay pa kami.”
