Steady Tams trip Bulldogs, near crown

Game Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. – Basketball awards

3:30 p.m. – FEU vs NU (men’s finals)

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern University leaned on its experience and old champion’s heart as National U succumbed to nerves and blew crucial free throws, carving out a 75-70 victory and closing in on the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball crown at the MOA Arena in Pasay City yesterday.

Roger Pogoy got things started in the third quarter then Mac Belo delivered the insurance basket as the Tams weathered the Bulldogs’ repeated comebacks down the stretch, including a game-tying attempt from way out at the buzzer.

One of four remnants of the team that figured in a championship series in 2011, the 6-foot-2 Pogoy fired 10 points in the third to help the Tams seize control, 60-47, and the Morayta-based cagers held on to secure the crucial win in the series opener.

Not much of a factor in the game, Belo took over when the Bulldogs threatened to within 71-68. Coming off a pick-and-roll, Belo blew by Alfred Aroga to score and extend FEU’s lead to five, 73-68, 44.6 seconds left.

“Not only Pogoy and Belo but it’s a good thing other players stepped up for us,” said FEU coach Nash Racela, citing the likes of Alfrancis Tamsi, Ron Dennison ad Raymar Jose who did their share. “People are saying they don’t have the finals’ experience but they were okay today, they played like veterans.”

It was the first victory in the finals for the Tams since their title-clinching 73-71 win over La Salle way back Oct. 6, 2005.

The Tams could finish the job with another victory on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Pogoy finished with 14 points to backstop Mike Tolomia’s team-high 15. Achi Inigo added 12, including eight in the payoff period while Belo wound up with eight.

“Iyung tao ko laging naghe-help kila Mike at Belo kaya open ako madalas. Buti na lang pumapasok (My defender helped out on defense against Tolomia and Belo so he left me open. Thankfully, I made my shots),” said Pogoy, who played sparingly as a freshman in the 2011 finals.

The Bulldogs, who are looking for their first title in 60 years, actually got off to a roaring start and grabbed a 30-18 lead halfway through the second canto, before the Tams adjusted and turned things around.

“We just got back to our strengths,” said Racela. “We just reminded them to do the right thing, be disciplined on defense, because the reason NU was scoring in the first half was we’re giving them breakdowns that they’re taking advantage of.”

“I felt FEU wanted it more than us,” NU coach Eric Altamirano said. “Key was the third quarter, we gave them 25 points there which was too much.”

He also rued the missed free throws of the Bulldogs, particularly during their rally.

“To sum it all up, that (missed charities) did us in. We missed 16 feethrows (overall). I think it was more of mental fatigue and too much excitement. I told them they were too emotional, emotion got in their way. Normally when they shoot free throws, they were very relaxed, they weren’t expending energy but today they were the opposite,” said Altamirano.

The scores:

FEU 75 – Tolomia 15, Pogoy 14, Inigo 12, Jose 8, Belo 8, Hargrove 8, Dennison 5, Tamsi 3, Cruz 2, Ru. Escoto 0.

NU 70 – Aroga 17, Alolino 14, Rosario 12, Khobuntin 9, Celda 7, Alejandro 3, Betayene 3, Javelona 3, Diputado 2, Neypes 0, Perez 0.

Quarterscores: 14-15, 35-38, 60-50, 75-70