By NIKOLE JAVIER
Xyrus Torres shone as Far Eastern University recovered from a slow start to take its third straight win with a 75-68 decision over University of the East in the second round of the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament Sunday, Oct. 30, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Torres tallied 22 points apart from five steals to help the Tamaraws exact revenge over the Red Warriors who snapped their 15-game losing streak in the first round against them, 76-66, last Oct. 5.
FEU used a telling21-9 third-quarter run that enabled them take the lead for the first time courtesy of Torres’ triple and a layup, 47-45.
The Tamaraws started cold as the Red Warriors scored 12 unanswered points until Torres fired a three-pointer to break the ice.
UE continued to pile up points, raising its lead to as many as 15 points before the Tamaraws went hot in the third.
Torres finished on 6-of-12 shooting from outside fired, including one from the corner to put FEU up by four, 51-55.
With FEU finding its tempo, the Tamaraws completely turned the tide with a 13-0 run this time to gain a 14-point advantage in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors, who fell to 3-5, made one big push, closing in on the Tamaraws, 67-63, courtesy of
Gani Stevens and Nikko Paranada with 2:18 to go.
Patrick Tchuente ended UE’s hopes with back-to-back layups to extend FEU’s lead to eight.
“My players stuck to the game plan. Nagkaproblema lang in the start but our zone helped us but it was our team defense that really gave us that win,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela. “Of course, we’re trying to ride in that momentum that we had in the first round.”
Nikko paced UE with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists, while Stevens added 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 clip from the field with nine rebounds.
The scores:
FEU 75 ‒ Torres 22, Gonzales 14, Tchuente 13, Sajonia 6, Anonuevo 5, Sleat 4, Bautista 4, Bagunu 3, Tempra 2, Celzo 2, Alforque 0, Sandagon 0.
UE 68 ‒ N. Paranada 21, Stevens 13, Villegas 13, Payawal 9, K. Paranada 6, Sawat 4, Pagsanjan 2, Remogat 0, Alcantara 0, Guevarra 0, Antiporda 0, Beltran 0.
Quarters: 8-23, 34-42, 55-51, 75-68.