Santos sizzled with 29 points, including a triple and a tip-in off a Mark Isip missed triple with 5.5 seconds as the Tams turned what could have been a disastrous setback to a rousing win that moved the Tamaraws closer to regaining the title they lost to the Archers last year.
The reigning titlist actually had two chances of pulling off the win or forcing an overtime but JV Casio misfired a three-pointer and Rico Maeirhofer muffed a tip-in as time expired.
"Para kay Lord talaga ito, todo dasal kasi ako nung huli akala ko kasi talo na kami," said FEU coach Bert Flores, now a win away from clinching a UAAP crown on his first try.
Game 2 is set Thursday next week also at the Big Dome while a deciding Game 3, if necessary, is on Oct. 8 at the same venue.
Joseph Yeo came through with another explosive stint with 26 points but could not get the job done down the stretch.
Trailing most of the first half, the Tams stepped on the gas in the second as Santos, 23, unleashed an 11-point splurge in the third period to seize a 58-51 lead. He hit the clutch baskets in the fourth canto again to give his team a 70-67 cushion with 3.30 remaining before La Salle strung up seven unanswered points to regain a 73-70 upperhand.
But Santos, a cinch for the MVP award, had other things in mind.
He came through with an off-balance trey as their shotclock ticked away, then came out of nowhere to tip-in Isip’s flubbed three-point attempt to seal the win.
But as Santos walked toward the FEU bench at the end of the contest he was punched by La Salle assistant manager Manny Salgado at the back of the head that triggered a commotion between the two teams and a debris-pelting incident.
Santos was talking with Yeo when Salgado went around the FEU prized cager and hit him at the back of the head with a closed fist. He was immediately whisked away by La Salle supporters.
It was not known what provoked Salgado to commit the act but it was replayed over and over again on TV for all the fans to see.
However, it failed to take the luster off Santos’ endgame brilliance and the Tams’ never-say-die spirit as the 2003 champions fought back from many as 14 points down to pound out the victory in a game.
The technical committee chaired by Ricky Palou of Ateneo is expected to decide today what sanction it would impose on Salgado and whether he would be barred from sitting on the bench for the rest of the series.
"Sa akin naman laro lang, huwag naman sana nilang saktan ang players ko," said Flores.
After three quick fouls in the second quarter, Eder Saldua scorched the hoops with 10 quick points in just three minutes late in the period to carry the Tams back from 14-point deficits to just a point, 42-43, at the break.
Earlier, University of the Philippines Integrated School shocked back-to-back titlist Ateneo High to book a best-of-three finals showdown with La Salle beginning Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
In women’s action, Ateneo stunned defending champion Adamson, 66-56, to gain a 1-0 edge in their own best-of-three title duel.