Tams finish strong, stop RP U-18

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U foiled the RP Youth U-18 bid for back-to-back victories as the Tams clobbered the Nationals, 72-54, in the Filoil Flying V Tanduay First Five Pre-Season Invitational Cup at the San Juan Arena yesterday.

The Tams rode on a big fourth quarter run to blast the Nationals, who kept the game close in the first three quarters only to lose steam in the face of the defending champions’ strong finishing kick.

RR Garcia unloaded six straight points at the start of the third, including a three-point play and a triple, as the Tams posted a 54-43 lead. The defending champions then outscored their younger rivals in the fourth, 24-11, to complete the rout.

“We had to control not only Kiefer (Ravena), but the whole RP team,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio, on their defensive strategy against the Nationals. “This may be a young team but this is not a team that we should treat lightly. I told the boys that they should not look at this as an easy game. That’s what we noticed with San Sebastian and that’s what we should avoid.”

The Tams, who blew a 16-point lead and lost to the UE Warriors, 72-78, last week, improved to 2-1 while dealing the RP Youth team its first loss after stunning the San Sebastian Stags, 93-88, in overtime last Wednesday where Ravena scored 30 points.

Garcia finished with 20 points and drew solid backup from Pipo Noundou, who had 18, and Christopher Exciminiano, who added 10 points.

Ravena struggled for only 14 while Kevin Ferrer and Jerome Teng chipped in 10 and eight points, respectively.

Teng’s charities shoved RP team to a 36-34 lead in the second period but Cervantes scored back-to-back baskets as the Tams wrested the lead before pouncing on the RP team’s miscues in the fourth to fashion out the victory.

Earlier, Arellano U, after dropping two close games, held off Emilio Aguinaldo College, 89-86.

The Chiefs dominated the first three quarters, 26-12, 53-45, 74-63, but had to scramble in the fourth as the Generals fought back behind Jay Santos and Argel Mendoza.

EAC even grabbed the lead at 86-85 with 1:55 left in the contest but the Chiefs regrouped and wrested control behind Ice Ciriacruz, Ian Celada and Vergel Zulueta, who scored on a drive in the last 12 seconds to secure the win for Arellano.

In the third game, Adamson trounced UE, 85-73, to notch its second win in three games.

Eric Camson scored 20 points and combined with Alex Nuyles and Lester Alvarez to dominate the Warriors. The Falcons led by as many as 15, 67-52, with 6:42 to go in the final quarter as the Warriors fell into a maze of errors.

The event is presented by Mighty Bond Extreme, with major sponsors Total Phils. Corp., San Marino Corned Tuna, Accel, Filoil Gas Company, Flying V and Hanesbrands, the official outfitter, and also backed by BDO, Pagcor Sports, Jimms Coffee Mix, Bacchus Energy Drink, Adidas, Bayo, Kaspersky Isecure Networks, Zest Air, Monster Radio RX 93.1 and Pilipinas Sife.