Alas, Manding tow Zobel, UST

Kiefer Alas delivered the first triple-double of the season to lead De La Salle-Zobel while University of Santo Tomas flirted with disaster before booking a scary win in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 High School Boys Basketball Tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tiger Cubs squandered a 27-point lead but Carl Manding delivered a game-winner to fend off reigning champion Far Eastern University-Diliman, 82-81 while Alas dropped an impressive all-around performance to lead the Junior Archers to a 100-76 rout of University of the Philippines Integrated School.

Alas, a grade 10 winger, unloaded 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 13 assists to go with a steal and a block for the Junior Archers, who also banked on Bonn Daja, Waki Espina, Charles Dimaano and Andrei Pabellano.

Daja added 18 points and 11 rebounds, Espina had 16 points, Dimaano contributed 13 points, and Peballano rounded out the double-figure scorers for the Junior Archers with 12.

With the victories, UST and La Salle-Zobel joined National University at the second spot with 2-1 cards while Adamson University stays on top with a perfect 3-0 card.

Meanwhile, the Tiger Cubs erected a huge 27-point lead heading into the final period, 71-44, but their performance spiraled from there, much to the disappointment of head coach Manu Iñigo.

The Baby Tamaraws showcased their championship pedigree as Veejay Pre, Liam Salangsang, Omar Gordon, and Cabs Cabonillas connived in their 37-point fourth frame that allowed them to rally back.

With UST ahead by 11 with 1:59 left in the game, Pre and Salangsang scored 10 unanswered points before Cabonillas drilled a putback off a Dwyne Miranda miss to put FEU on top with 8.1 seconds to go, 81-80.

In the next play off a timeout, Kurt Velasquez inbounded the ball to Manding, who then initiated a give-and-go action with Doy Dungo for the game-winning layup with 2.5 ticks remaining.