by Waylon Galvez
It didn’t come easy but the Tamaraws did it.
Far Eastern University accomplished what five other teams failed to do earlier as the Tamaraws dealt the Falcons their first loss, 88-85, in overtime last night in the 81st UAAP men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was a collective effort for FEU as the Tams claimed their fourth win in six outings to stay at third spot behind now co-leaders Adamson and defending champion Ateneo at 5-1.
Richard Escoto gave FEU the lead 85-84 with two free throws off a foul by Jerom Lastimosa with 2:12 left in the extra period. Wendell Comboy then gave the Tams a two-point cushion, 86-84, when he split his charities off a Jonathan Espleta foul with 49 ticks to play.
Adamson had a chance to tie the game but Cameroonian center Papi Sarr made just one of two free throws to trim the deficit to 86-85.
Barkley Ebona put FEU up 88-85 with a layup, 17 seconds to go and the Tamaraws held on as the Falcons misfired from three-point area, including misses by Sean Manganti and Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Arvin Tolentino powered FEU with 19 points, Hubert Cani had 14 points and Comboy added 13 points.
“Since our losses to UE and UST, coach Olsen (Racela) kept on telling our players to always give their best effort,” said FEU assistant coach Eric Gonzales, who attended the post game interview after Racela hurried off to join Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for its PBA game against Meralco in Laguna.
Ahanmisi led Adamson with 21 points, while Manganti had 20 points.
University of the Philippines survived a late charge by National University as the Fighting Maroons hang on to beat the Bulldogs 89-88.
UP dictated the game’s tempo for almost the entire game and was ahead 87-79 following a tip-in by Nigerian center Bright Akhuetie with 1:32 remaining in the game.
But NU fought back behind the combined efforts of guard JV Gallego, center Troy Rike, and Ildefonso brothers Dave and Shaun, whose layup cut the deficit to 89-88 with 10.1 seconds left.
The scores:
UP 89 – Akhuetie 21, Gomez de Liaño Ju. 20, Gomez de Liaño Ja. 19, Desiderio 14, Manzo 8, Dario 6, Prado 1, Jaboneta 0, Murrell 0, Gozum 0, Lim 0.
NU 88 – Ildefonso D. 20, Sinclair 13, Gallego 13, Ildefonso S 12, Gaye 11, Clemente 9, RIke 4, Diputado 3, Morido 2, Yu 1, Joson 0, Aquino 0, Malonzo 0, Tibayan 0, Galinato 0.
Quarters: 26-20; 47-40; 70-62; 89-88.
FEU 88 – Tolentino 19, Cani 14, Comboy 13, Eboña 9, Escoto 8, Gonzalea 8, Parker 7, Orizu 6, Tuffin 2, Iñigo 2, Stockton 0.
Adamson 85 – Ahanmisi 21, Manganti 20, Sarr 15, Camacho 10, Lastimosa 8, Magbuhos V. 4, Espeleta 3, Pingoy 2, Zaldivar 2, Bernardo 0, Catapusan 0, Colonia 0, Mojica 0.
Quarters: 16-19; 43-34; 67-52; 80-80; 88-85.
