Tams snatch win as Archers choke, lose aim

"We choked."

This was Mark Cardona’s quick reaction moments after La Salle, after leading by as many as 17 points, absorbed a heart-breaking 76-74 loss to Far Eastern University last night in the 66th UAAP season at the Araneta Coliseum.

"That’s what coach Franz (Pumaren) told us. We choked. Forty-eight seconds, lamang kami at amin pa ang bola. Then we choked," said Cardona on his way out of the dugout while the rest of his teammates were still inside, locked up with the members of the coaching staff.

Cardona fouled out of the game with still 2:33 remaining and La Salle enjoying a 74-66 lead.The Green Archers then failed to score a point the rest of the way and watched the Tamaraws pull off the come-from-behind victory and improve their overall record to 7-1.

The Green Archers took the half at 40-23 but were never the same again in the final 20 minutes where they committed big, costly turnovers on their way to a 5-3 record. Overall, La Salle had 34 turnovers against the 21 of the FEU.

"Ngayon lang siguro nangyari sa amin," said Cardona, referring to those turnovers which the Tamaraws converted into 27 points. "Madami nga ako na-score, pero wala lahat ‘yan kapag talo kayo."

The Tamaraws, who also came back from 17 points down to beat the Green Archers in the first round, drew the game’s biggest baskets from Dennis Miranda and Arwind Santos who actually combined for six points in the final 32.6 seconds.

"We just stayed positive. But how can you explain it, we won by the grace of the Lord," said a jubilant FEU coach Coy Banal, who failed to carry his team to the Final Four last year but is tipped to win it all this time.

Another coach who went home with a smile yesterday was Adamson’s Luigi Trillo following his team’s 68-66 overtime victory over University of the Philippines.

It was the fourth win in eight games for the Falcons, and the third in their last four games. With still six games to play in the second round, Adamson is now assured of surpassing its 2002 record of 3-11. Adamson went winless in 2000 and 2001.

"This (win) is a real nice one for Adamson and we’re so happy. Yes, the teams we beat are in the lower standings but at least ngayon palaban na ang team," said Trillo after his wards defeated the Maroons (1-7) for the second time this season. It was also their second win in overtime, the other one being against National University midway in the first round.

Despite the victory, Trillo wasn’t quite satisfied with the officiating, citing one particular play when Kenneth Bono of Adamson was being "swiped" after grabbing a rebound but, he said, no foul was called.

"I was worried about the refs in the endgame kasi there were fouls na hindi tinawag. I’m gonna voice and air my opinion with no disrespect to the referees. I’m very worried because we’ll play next at Loyola against Ateneo so I hope they give us a fair chance," he said.