Carl Tamayo lets his game do the talking with monster double-double

Earlier than opening day, College of the Philippines (UP) large man Carl Tamayo had no comeback for Evan Nelle, who picked his La Salle squad as the favourite of the UAAP Season 85 males’s basketball event.

As an alternative, the 6-foot-7 Maroons star let his sport do the speaking. And his sport spoke large phrases. Tamayo calmly buried two game-clinching free throws within the dying seconds because the Maroons opened its title-retention bid with a come-from-behind 72-69 win over the Archers on Saturday evening at Mall of Asia Area.

“If he (Nelle) believes that they’re the perfect crew, we respect that. We simply did what we’ve got to do to get the win,’’ mentioned Tamayo, who completed with 18 factors and 19 rebounds as he tortured the Inexperienced Archers anew, simply as he did in final season’s Remaining 4.

And a warning to different groups: He isn’t simply cooking the Carl Tamayo particular solely for La Salle.

“It has nothing to do with going through La Salle. Our crew has been constructing a tradition the place no one ought to quit and [everyone] will combat to the tip, no matter who we face,’’ mentioned the member of the Gilas Pilipinas nationwide program.

Nelle had a slim window of alternative to again his preseason declaration, however the slippery guard fumbled amid a phalanx of UP defenders atop the arc and didn’t launch a desperation shot.

Nelle truly pulled the Archers inside one with a banked three and put Tamayo on the charity stripe on the following play. Tamayo’s game-clinching free throws allowed the Maroons to bounce again after falling behind by double digits within the second quarter, the place a dizzying spell of turnovers towards La Salle’s dreaded press left them bewildered.

Tigers triumph

“I feel we’ve got to be extra organized in our succeeding video games. That is our first sport, however there’s no purpose for us to play in a state of affairs like that,’’ mentioned UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

Terrence Fortea added 15 factors for the defending champions, who additionally trailed by double digits within the second half.

Malick Diouf was likewise instrumental in securing the win for Maroons, his pair of putbacks and successive defensive stops across the rim serving to the Maroons erase the deficit midway by the fourth.

Alex Winston led the Archers with 27 factors whereas Nelle added 9 factors.

In the meantime, College of Santo Tomas, garbed in a throwback jersey from the varsity’s UAAP sweep through the 1993 season, has discovered a brand new king tiger.

Nic Cabanero fired a career-high 33 factors, together with the insurance coverage basket with 41.6 seconds left, to raise the Growling Tigers to a 69-60 win over the Adamson Falcons within the season opener.

Undaunted by a fading shot clock, Cabanero confidently swished a step-back jumper that created a five-point separation the Tigers wanted within the closing seconds to kick off a season teeming with promise.

“My coaches have been giving me the boldness. They all the time inform me to remain calm and composed,’’ mentioned Cabanero in Filipino. The sophomore was thrust into the chief’s position following the absence of some UST key gamers this season.

“I’m completely happy that I used to be capable of assist our crew win our first sport,’’ added the 6-foot-2 combo guard.

Cabanero instantly confirmed the stuff he’s made from proper, rattling off 17 factors within the first half earlier than ultimately going 13 of 18 from the sector in 32 minutes of motion.

“Any coach will give Nic the chance. There’s little doubt that he has the talents and will assist us get a W,’’ mentioned newly put in UST head coach Bal David, who inherited a newbie-laden crew that’s coming off a 3-11 file from final season.

“I desire to be referred to as an underdog as a result of there will likely be much less strain on our finish,’’ added David, the previous PBA star and an important cog in that 14-0 UST champion crew again in 1993.

The Falcons tried to resuscitate their dwindling probabilities close to the tip, however bungled three makes an attempt from afar, permitting the Tigers to seal Adamson’s downfall on the charity stripe.

Christian Manaytay and Paul Manalang break up their free throws because the Falcons went into fouling frenzy earlier than Cabanero iced the win together with his personal two freebies.

Lenda Douanga and Joshua Yerro had 13 factors every for the Falcons, who chased Cabanero and the Tigers all sport lengthy earlier than lastly closing in on a Jerome Lastimosa three, 60-63, with a minute left.

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