Tams scuttle Stags, shoot for crown today

Reigning UAAP champion Far Eastern University leaned on a vicious running game as it dismantled San Sebastian College, 81-77, yesterday to move a step closer from clinching the 2003 Champions’ League crown at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Veteran Dennis Miranda unleashed a superb performance that netted the league’s first triple double as the Tams moved within a win of annexing the crown to a string of victories this year.
Arwind Santos paced Far Eastern U with 15 points, including six in a big third quarter run that powered the Tams to win in the short best-of-three title series with the Stags, runners-up to the Letran Knights in the NCAA wars.

Gerard Jones and Mark Isip were as dominant as the former UAAP Rookie of the Year as they scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Miranda, one of the heroes in the Tams’ 63-58 come-from-behind win over this year’s National Inter-Collegiate titlist St. Francis of Assisi the other day, submitted with the league’s first triple-double effort with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

"Ginawa ko lang ‘yung dapat kong gawin," said Miranda, who is also seeing action for Viva Mineral Water in the on-going Philippine Basketball League Platinum Cup.

Four Stags, spearheaded by Red Vicente’s 17 points and Leomar Najorda’s 16, also ended up with double-digit scores but lacked the defense to derail the Tams’ fast-paced game.

The Tams go for the kill at 2 p.m. today, also at the same venue and clinch title that eluded them last year when they were smothered by the University of the East Red Warriors.

"We executed our plays well both in offense and defense and that I think is the key in this win," said FEU coach Koy Banal. "Pipilitin naming tapusin na bukas pero hindi pa rin kami nakakasiguro dahil San Sebastian iyan."

With Isip leading the way, FEU seized the momentum in the first half but it was only when Santos sparked a blistering third quarter run that blew away San Sebastian, which could only inch as closer as five markers.

So dominating was the Tams that they led in rebounds (52-45), assists (19-11), steals (11-5) and blocks (5-4).