MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U showed it’s for real as the Tams outclassed another contender in the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 77-67, to sustain their hot streak in the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball tournament at the MOA Arena yesterday.
The Tams turned to a lot of heroes – from regulars Terrence Romeo (19 points, three triples) and RR Garcia (17 markers, six assists) and Mike Tolomia (12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists) to backups like Mark Belo (14 points, nine boards) – to seize a 13-point cushion against the Tigers.
Making a fitting follow-up to its 87-83 triumph over National U last Wednesday, FEU jacked up its record to 6-0 and moved one win away from completing a sweep of the first round of action. The Tams will face the Adamson Falcons on Sunday, looking to duplicate their 7-0 start three years ago.
“6-0, it’s the same feeling as 1-0. One thing I learned as a coach is that 6-0 doesn’t guarantee anything. Those are just numbers,†said FEU coach Nash Racela.
The Tams and the Tigers fought back-and-forth until halfway in the third when the Morayta-based cagers seized a 56-48 lead. Tolomia, Garcia and Romeo made big baskets one after another to stretch the Tams’ margin to 74-61 going to the last 4:32 of the fourth.
But while the Tams hit their mark down the stretch, the Tigers fumbled in their offense while trying to score in transition, enabling the Morayta-based cagers to run away with the victory.
It was FEU’s 12th victory over UST in their last 13 faceoffs.
Karim Abdul fired 21 points and grabbed 11 boards, but wound up with only two in the payoff period for UST, which dropped to 3-2 in a tie for second with Adamson.
Kevin Ferrer, wearing a mask due to a cheek injury he suffered last week, added 18 markers for the Tigers, who sorely missed injured captain Jeric Teng (shoulder injury) against the super guards of FEU.
Earlier, Ateneo cranked it up from the late stages of the second quarter on to cruise to a 72-64 triumph over University of the Philippines. The Eagles improved to 2-4 while handing the Maroons their fifth straight setback.
Kiefer Ravena, playing his best game in an injury-plagued season, pumped in 15 points while Chris Newsome and Ryan Buenafe added 13 markers apiece as the Eagles reasserted their mastery over their Katipunan neighbors. It was AdMU’s eighth consecutive W over UP since 2009.
“UP is really a very dangerous team, I was telling my players; their not winning anything is not reflective of what they really can do,†said Ateneo coach Bo Perasol, fielding questions from media for only the second time as winning coach.
“Good thing, Kiefer is already 50 percent; you still have to watch out for the other 50 percent and that gives us confidence,†he added.
Ravena, who was downed by sprained ankle early on, struck hardest in the third (nine points) where the Eagles padded the eight-point cushion they built at the half into a 57-38 tear.
“Eversince the UAAP started, the third quarter has always been our Waterloo; coming off the half, we’re always leading yet we can’t maintain it and eventually lose in the crunch. And so we wanted to start strong and pound on UP,†said Ravena.
The Eagles spoiled the personal-best 22 points of UP’s top gunner Samuel Marata.