Not even a red-hot fourth quarter by spitfire guard Jeric Canada could bail out the Falcons.
The FEU Tamaraws played with just enough grit down the stretch to hold on to a 78-74 win over Adamson to complete an upset of the fancied No. 2 squad in the semifinals of the 74th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.
Michael Tolomia scattered 19 points to lead the Tamaraws, who survived a 12-point fourth quarter scoring barrage by Adamson’s Canada to set up a finals clash with powerhouse Ateneo.
Canada just played like a man possessed in the final canto, exploding for at least 10-straight points in the closing minutes in an effort to wrest the lead. But Tolomia, Terrence Romeo and Aldrech Ramos uncorked big plays down the stretch to help FEU hold on to the win.
It was a heartbreaker of a loss for the Falcons, who are tipped to make the finals following their masterful drubbing of Ateneo in their second-round meeting.
The Morayta-based cagers begin their finals series against Ateneo on Thursday.