Tams show might in stretch, claim top spot in Final Four

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern University wiped out Ateneo’s six-point lead in the last 3:47 to hack out a 74-72 triumph and seize the No. 1 spot in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 73 seniors basketball tourney at the Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Aldrech Ramos, Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia delivered the key baskets down the stretch as the Tamaraws finished the elims on top with 12-2, setting up a duel with No. 4 La Salle in the semis on Thursday.

The Eagles, who topped the elims the last two years, settled for No. 2 with 10-4, forging an F4 showdown with third-ranked Adamson on Sept. 19.

“We really wanted to win so that FEU will be No. 1 again. This is the first time since 2005; same record of 12-2, hopefully, same results,” said FEU coach Glen Capacio, referring to the Arwind Santos-led team that went all the way to the title.

Earlier, University of the East (UE) capped its campaign by beating a winless University of the Philippines side, 67-61, to end up sixth overall with 6-8.

Ramos canned his two charities while Romeo hit a jumper and Garcia, the leading MVP contender, uncorked a triple in a 10-3 salvo that gave FEU a 73-72 lead from a 63-69 deficit. 

Ateneo’s Justin Chua missed on the other end, leading to a split by Reil Cervantes off Nico Salva for a 74-72 edge, 20.1 ticks left before Paul Sanga foiled Ryan Buenafe’s attempt with 7.2 seconds left to practically seal the big win.

“I salute the boys’ character, especially down the stretch. They were down by six points and they never gave up,” said Capacio.

Romeo, the leading rookie-of-the-year candidate, showed the stuff of a veteran, firing 15 points, most of them at a time Garcia had to sit on the bench due to foul trouble, along with 10 rebounds.

Ramos also had 15 markers and 11 rebounds while Cervantes had 14 to offset the eight-point performance of Garcia and the absence of sore eyes-hit skipper Jens Knuttel and Carl Cruz.

Buenafe shot 14 as Salva had 13 and Erik Salamat had 12 for Ateneo, whose coach Norman Black was so frustrated with officiating that he accosted the referees at the end of the game.

UE’s James Martinez and Raphy Reyes wound up their collegiate careers with 17 and 11 points, respectively, as the Red Warriors finished No. 6 while dealing the Fighting Maroons their 14th setback.

The Warriors closed their second round with 5-2, claiming the scalp of semifinal qualifiers FEU, Adamson and Ateneo, but the charge came all too late to catch the last bus to the semis.

It was the second 0-14 season for UP in four years, having gone winless in 2007 under Joe Lipa. Graduating center Magi Sison paced the Maroons with 21 points.