By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Tomorrow
(Smart-Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. – NU vs UP
4 p.m. – Adamson vs FEU
Host Far Eastern University let one big opportunity slip away from its hands the last time out. But first-year coach Olsen Racela is confident that the Tamaraws can pull their act quick – and get its immediate job done in the process.
“I always tell them not to be too high and not too low,” he said, trying his best to keep things in perspective after FEU squandered a 15-point lead in the final canto and fell prey to National University, 87-84, last Wednesday, keeping the race for the remaining Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 80 basketball tourney wide open.
“After a win, dapat hindi ka masyado nagse-celebrate so after a loss, ganun din dapat. Huwag ka masyadong malungkot or apektado. It’s just basketball and you still have a game to play.”
Still, FEU could afford to play with less pressure against Final Four-bound Adamson tomorrow if only it sustained its hot shooting where it made 18 triples – a new league-record – and did enough defensive stops down the stretch to hold off NU’s desperate bid.
“Masyado kaming nagrely on offense. Nu’ng fourth quarter, we just had to make stops,” admitted Racela, whose wards recovered their bearings and rebuilt their biggest lead at 79-64 edge early in the final period.