Tams keep Houdini act, nip Falcons

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern University went through another wringer and pulled through once again, hacking out a 65-62 win over Adamson to maintain its grip of the UAAP Season 75 leadership at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Terrence Romeo fired a career-best 23 points, including a three-point play off Allen Etrone that gave the Tams a 65-60 cushion in the last 2:18, to power the Morayta-based squad to its third straight victory.

FEU earlier hacked out a 73-72 victory over University of Santo Tomas, then nipped La Salle, 48-46.

“First game, one point. Second game, two points. Third game, three points. All heart attack games,” said FEU coach Bert Flores.

“I’m still not convinced. We still have our work cut out. I’m waiting for the time we can really dictate a game,” he added, giving his boys credit for forcing AdU (0-2) to commit 19 turnovers that were converted to 25 points.

Romeo gave FEU baskets when needed but it was his contribution in moving the ball that really got props from Flores.

“In our last game, he had only one assist but today he had six. Good job,” he said, shaking the third-year guard’s hands in the post-game presscon.

RR Garcia added 12 markers while rookie Rey Mark Belo chipped in nine markers and nine rebounds and Michael Tolomia added six points, including a clutch trey and layup in the payoff period, for FEU, the only unbeaten team in the tourney.

Etrone (13), Eric Camson (11) and Rodney Brondial (11) topscored for AdU, which was hurt by the meager two-point output of Alex Nuyles. It’s the Falcons’ first 0-2 start since Season 71.

In the first game, National U rebounded from its heartbreaking loss to Ateneo with a 67-50 rout of University of the Philippines.

Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (18 points, six assists, three steals) and Emmanuel Mbe (17 markers, 16 boards) led the way for the Bulldogs (2-1), who dominated the Maroons (0-2) from start to finish as they got back from their 65-89 setback to the Eagles last Sunday.

“It’s a test of character (having to bounce back from that loss) and I think right now the team is coping up well,” said Parks, whose team enjoyed as much as a 28-point lead, at 56-28.

Coach Eric Altamirano commended his wards for this show of character and credited their defense for this triumph.

“Although things weren’t falling for us offensively, I felt the boys played good defense. Most of our points came from transition fueled by our defense,” said Altamirano. 

Mike Silungan and Jett Manuel lead the Maroons with 11 apiece.

UAAP NOTES: The double-header that was called off due to heavy rains last July 21 will be played on Aug. 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the UAAP announced yesterday. That slate will feature University of the East against Adamson at 2 p.m. and University of the Philippines versus University of Santo Tomas at 4 p.m.

The scores:

First Game (Srs)

NU 67 – Parks 18, Mbe 17, Javillonar 9, Rono 7, Alolino 6, Villamor 4, Ignacio 4, De Guzman 2, Singh 0, Rosario 0, Neypes 0, Labing-isa 0, Betayene 0.

UP 50 – Silungan 11, Manuel 11, Montecastro 10, Ball 4, Lopez 4, Hipolito 4, Asilum 4, Soyud 2, Mbah 0, Romero 0, Padilla 0, Gamboa 0.

Quarterscores: 16-10, 42-20, 52-28, 67-50

Second Game

FEU 65 – Romeo 23, Garcia 12, Belo 9, Tolomia 6, Escoto 5, Hargrove 4, A. Bringas 4, M. Bringas 2, Pogoy 0, Cruz 0.

AdU 62 – Etrone 13, Camson 11, Brondial 11, Cruz 8, Petilos 7, Cabrera 4, Abrigo 4, Trollano 2, Nuyles 2, Rios 0, Monteclaro 0, Julkipli 0, Agustin 0.

Quarterscores: 15-15, 35-28, 50-49, 65-62