Abdul hits listless Tigers for loss to Eagles

MANILA, Philippines - Cameroonian Karim Abdul left the hardcourt immediately after the final buzzer formalized Santo Tomas’ heartbreaking 61-63 loss to Ateneo Wednesday, fuming with frustration over what he felt was “pitiful” effort from his teammates.

Abdul, who had 19 points and 12 rebounds, didn’t like how the veterans couldn’t step up for the now 3-2 Tigers.

“We have a lot of veteran players like Janjan (Sheriff) and Paolo Pe who’ve been here for five years but everybody is not contributing the way we need them to. All those things contribute  to the loss in the end,” Abdul said after emerging from the dugout.

“Some guys don’t want to take on their responsibilities. It’s really pitiful. It’s so hard to accept certain things. If we lose, it’s our fault,” he added.

The Tigers blew a two-point lead going to the last 1:26 and got punished by Kiefer Ravena’s looping shot with 3.7 seconds left that sealed it for the Eagles. The strategy was to give up fouls in Ateneo’s last offensive but they let Ravena go scot-free.

“Coach (Bong dela Cruz) told us to foul Kiefer immediately because we still have fouls to give. It was Ed Daquioag who was on him and I don’t know about his presence of mind at that time but we didn’t foul,” Abdul lamented.

“I don’t know what to say, man. Everyday, we are going to say ‘Bawi next game. Bawi next game.’ But everyday, it’s the same mistakes. Whenever we say, ‘Bawi next game,’ and then we are going to lose, it’s hard,” he rued.

The latest “bounce-back” mission just got harder as the Tigers will be facing streaking defending champion La Salle (4-2) on Sunday.