Games Sunday (Philsports Arena)
2 p.m. — Adamson vs La Salle
4 p.m. — Ateneo vs UP

Dylan Ababou knows he has to raise his game if he wants to bring the rookie-laden University of Santo Tomas to the Final Four.

The veteran forward did more than what is expected of him Saturday, coming through with clutch plays to help the Tigers bring the fancied University of the East Warriors down to earth, 92-88, in the 72nd UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

Ababou scored 11 of his game-high 28 points in the last five minutes as the Tigers pulled away slowly but surely from the faltering Warriors in a game the Recto-based dribblers was expected to dominate following their training in the United States.

The victory was doubly meaningful for the Tigers since it was their first win over the Warriors since beating them in the 2006 Final Four. The then Jervy Cruz-led Tigers eventually won the title at the expense of the heavily-favored Ateneo squad.

The 6-foot-4 shattered a 77-all deadlock with a basket with roughly four minutes left then completed a three-point play off Paul Zamar with 1:17 remaining for a 84-79 lead that put the game away.

"Given na itong pinakita ni Dylan pero ang maganda rito, nag-stepped up ang team," said UST head coach Pido Jarencio, who also got 20 points from Khazim Mirza and 12 points and 14 rebounds from Chris Camus.

Big man Pari Llagas had 17 points and 11 rebounds in a losing cause as the Red Warriors slipped to an even 2-2 record – a development that angered some UE supporters.

A big disappointment for the Warriors was Paul Lee, who struggled with only six points.

Earlier, Far Eastern University made up for a so-so effort two days back by crushing National University, 82-57.

After needing a furious fourth quarter charge to escape past upset-minded Adamson, the Tamaraws, drawing fine performances from almost everybody – notably rookie Ryan Roose Garcia and national team members Mark Barroca and JR Cawaling, ripped the game wide apart in the second quarter to notch their third straight win in four starts.

The scores:

First Game

FEU 82 — Garcia 20, Cawaling 14, Barroca 13, Noundou 10, Ramos 8, Sanga 6, Pereabras 2, Manalo 2, Exciminiano 2, Eguilos 2, Cervates 2, Tanuan 1, Vinluan 0, Knuttel 0, Guerrero 0, Caluag 0.

NU 57 — Hermosisima 15, Singh 13, Cabaluna 7, Baloran 7, Ponferrada 5, Batac 4, Roy 3, Terso 2, Malanday 1, Tungcul 0, Manito 0, Luy 0, Donahue 0.

Quarters: 22-12, 42-25, 61-43, 82-57.

Second Game

UST 92 — Ababou 28, Mirza 20, Camus 12, Teng 11, Maliksi 11, Bautista 7, Fortuna 2, Afuang 1, Mariano 0, Green 0, Aytona 0.

UE 88 — Llagas 17, Zamar 16, Acuna 12, Lingganay 9, Espiritu 8, Ayala 7, Reyes 6, Lee 6, Duran 4, Bandaying 3, Sumido 0, Alabanza 0.

Quarters: 24-24, 47-36, 65-71, 92-88.