By NIKOLE JAVIER
L-jay Gonzales scattered 21 points and Far Eastern University shocked defending champion Ateneo in overtime, 66-61, to end its four-game losing streak in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
It was also FEU’s first win against Ateneo since 2018 which couldn’t have come in the most perfect time.
Last season, the Tamaraws started their campaign with a 0-5 record before going on a four-game winning run.
Ateneo fell to 2-3.
Gonzales, who also had seven boards, finished with a 9-of-17 shooting spiked back-to-back step-back jumpers that broke the last deadlock in overtime and gave FEU a four-point lead, 63-59.
Xyrus Torres, for his part, contributed 13 points of his own.
FEU squandered a 52-37 advantage as Ateneo fought back to send the game into overtime.
Good thing for the Tamaraws, they recovered their bearings heading into the extra period despite being scoreless for the last six minutes before James Tempra stopped the bleeding with a layup, 59-all.
With 1:11 left in overtime, Gonzales launched a jumper before Ateneo committed another costly turnover which he converted into another basket, 63-59.
Torres then was sent to the line and made both free throws which stretched FEU’s lead to 65-59.
Any last-ditch efforts from the Ateneo side went nowhere as the game was as good as done at that point.
“Against Ateneo pa [kami nanalo]. Ganda ng team effort from coaching staff to the players and the management, tulong tulong. Makapanalo kami at least isa kasi alam namin sa sarili namin bound to win na kami nung mga [previous] games eh,” said FEU head coach Denok Miranda.
Jared Brown paced the Blue Eagles with 18 points on a 7-of-12 shooting clip, while Kai Ballungay had 12 points and seven rebounds in the losing cause.
The scores:
FEU 66 – Gonzales 21, Torres 13, Sleat 9, Tempra 8, Alforque 4, Bagunu 4, Competente 4, Ona 2, Faty 1, Bautista 0, Buenaventura 0, Montemayor 0, Felipe 0.
ATENEO 61 – Brown 18, Ballungay 12, Espinosa 8, Koon 8, Nieto 3, Credo 2, Obasa 2, Gomez 2, Bongo 2, Lazaro 2, Amos 2, Tuano 0, Chiu 0.
Quarters: 11-13, 30-26, 45-37, 57-57, 66-61.
