FEU Tamaraws warded off Adamson Falcons’ ferocious fightback as they held on to a scary 62-61 win today to fortify its hold of third spot in the UAAP Season 74 men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tamaraws gut out the win without veteran big man Aldrech Ramos in the final minute as reigning MVP RR Garcia took the cudgels anew, delivering the basket that gave enough cushion against the hard-fighting Falcons.
With the Falcons threatening to steal the game away, Garcia restored order with his basket in the final 54 seconds pushing FEU’s lead back to six, 62-56.
Lester Alvarez and Alex Nuyles’ five-point cluster sandwiched a turnover by last season Rookie of the Year Terrence Romeo to bring the Falcons within one, 62-61, 12 seconds left. But the Tamaraws were able to toy with the clock before Adamson's John Brondial gave up a foul sending Carl Cruz to the line with only a second left.
After muffing his first attempt, Cruz intentionally missed the second free throw as the clock expired giving the Tamaraws their sixth win in 10 games good for solo third behind unbeaten Ateneo Blue Eagles (9-0) and their victim, who fell to 7-3.
Ramos logged in 18 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in the last 1:02. Garcia, who went scoreless in the first half, uncorked seven points each in the last two quarters to finish with 14. Romeo also scored 14 points on top of seven boards and five assists but also committed five turnovers.
Nuyles was the only Falcon in double figures as he wound up with 17 markers, 10 caroms, two assists and three steals. - Alder Almo