Warriors topple league-leading Tams

MANILA, Philippines -- With their backs against the-wall, University of the East dished out what coach Derrick Pumaren dubbed as their “best performance” to date, bringing down pacesetting Far Eastern, 94-71, to keep their Final Four aspirations alive and kicking Sunday in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Red Warriors unleashed a lethal 21-0 salvo in the fourth anchored on Charles Mammie, "prodigal son" Roi Sumang and Bong Galanza to take command  for good en route to their seventh win in 12 outings, staying one game behind fourth-running National U (8-4) in their chase for the semis.

Final Four qualifier Tams, who welcomed back coach Nash Racela after his stint with Gilas Pilipinas in Spain, dropped to 10-3 but maintained their position at the top in the company of Ateneo.

“So far that’s the best we played this season,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren, whose charges won their third straight outing.

“UE has not beaten FEU since 2009 so matagal na rin. But as I’ve told the boys, we can’t be too happy about this kasi wala pa, naghahabol pa rin kami. We’re still right behind NU and we still have to control our destiny, we’re playing La Salle next,” he added.

Galanza fired a career-high 26 markers and was backstopped by Mammie who punched in 18 despite foul woes. Sumang, who was benched last game for disciplinary reasons, saw limited action off the bench but pumped in nine points, all in their fourth-quarter breakaway.

“The guys showed their guts out tonight. They refused to lose, knowing the predicament we’re in right now. I think we played a hell of a defense in the fourth. We’re able to defend their dribble-drive offense, we’re there all the time to challenge every shot. I’m very happy and proud of them,”  said Pumaren.

“But as I’ve told them, we’re not out of the woods yet, we’re still trying to stay alive. That’s our mission for tonight. We’re playing the No. 1 team in the league and we just have to want it more than them and the boys showed it tonight, they wanted it more than FEU,” he added.

UE has moved on from last week’s episode wherein Sumang missed practice and was meted disciplinary action by the team.

“He’s been showing up in practice and working very hard and it showed tonight. In the fourth he was able  to settle down and hit two three point shots that kept him going,” said Pumaren.

Sumang checked in late in the first quarter and played five unproductive minutes. Pumaren sent him back late in the third and stayed in the crucial stretch of the payoff period and did his part.

“He really played well, especially in the fourth. But I must say it was a total team effort. We really played as a team on defense,” said Pumaren.
Mac Belo (16) and Achie Inigo (10) topscored for FEU.