Riding the crest of an inspiring 94-90 semis win over Cebu champion University of Visayas Sunday, the Warriors held the Tamaraws to just 10 points in the third quarter to set the theme of the one-sided win.
"I feel it’s our defense in the third quarter that did it for us," said UE coach Boyzie Samar. "I also have to give credit to my second stringers who stepped up when my starters wavered."
Defensive specialist Jay Arr Estrada fired 10 of his 15 points in the third period when the Warriors broke the backs of the Tams, a late replacement for dethroned UAAP champion La Salle.
The Warriors, who also topped Bantay Bata 163’s UAAP-NCAA Benefit Games a month back, go for the kill at 3:30 p.m. today.
The Tamaraws survived the Warriors first onslaught but they could not weather the second, a 20-6 blitz that turned a close contest to a ghastly rout in the third canto.
FEU mentor Coy Banal, a known bench tactician, said the series is not yet over. "There is still one more game, and maybe another one," said Banal.
Earlier UE’s Nino Canaleta slammed his way to becoming the event’s slam dunk champion, beating teammate Ronald Tubid in the finals to take home the top purse worth P10,000.
His one-hand tomahawk dunk and one-hander over a utility boy earned the nod of the judges and the cheering crowd.
Other participants were Ateneo’s JC Intal, UST’s Danilo Pribhdas, UE Arbold Booker and San Sebastian’s Jaime Nadela.
Meanwhile, organizers, sponsors and media named UE’s Paul Artadi, Olan Omiping, UV’s Joseph Quiñahan and Neil Raneses and FEU’s Arwind Santos to the Mythical Five.