by Waylon Galvez
Far Eastern University trounced a shorthanded Adamson crew, 82-56, last night to arrange a playoff for the final semifinal berth with La Salle in the 81st UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Sean Manganti and Jerrick Ahanmisi, both nursing minor injuries, were not fielded by Adamson coach Franz Pumaren, paving the way for the Tamaraws to pick up the easy win.
Wendell Comboy scored 11 points while Hubert Cani and Arvin Tolentino added 10 points apiece as FEU finished the elimination round tied with University of the Philippines and De La Salle with similar 8-6 records.
Because of superior quotient, the Fighting Maroons earned the No. 3 spot and will face No. 2 and twice-to-beat Falcons in the semifinals on Saturday at the MOA Arena.
La Salle and FEU, on the other hand, will clash for the No. 4 spot on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The winner will meet top seed and defending champion Ateneo on Sunday at the Big Dome.
“Well, we’re finally getting the breaks,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela. “It’s a big thing for us that in this game with them they’re missing Ahanmisi and Manganti. But we have one more game to play to make it to the Final Four.”
“We have an opportunity. We have one more game and we were given a blessing,” added Racela, who is in his third season with FEU.
Adamson finished the elimination round with a 10-4 card.
In the other game, National University edged University of the East, 79-71, to finish the double elimination round with a 4-10 record under coach Mike Jarin.
The Warriors ended the season with a 1-13 record under rookie coach Joe Silva.
The scores:
NU 79 – Rike 17, Gaye 12, Ildefonso D. 9, Ildefonso S. 9, Aquino 7, Yu 6, Salim 6, Diputado 5, Galinato 4, Clemente 2, Tibayan 2, Morido 0, Joson 0, Malonzo 0.
UE 71 – Pasaol 20, Conner 19, Acuno 11, Varilla 10, Manalang 7, Bartolome 2, Guion 2, Cullar 0, Maloles 0, Gallardo 0, Strait 0.
Quarters: 21-17, 44-32, 58-46, 79-71
FEU 82 – Comboy 11, Tolentino 10, Cani 10, Stockton 8, Parker 7, Tuffin 7, Eboña 6, Iñigo 4, Orizu 3, Bienes 3, Gonzales 3, Ramirez 3, Nunag 3, Escoto 2, Jopia 2, Bayquin 0.
ADAMSON 56 – Lastimosa 11, Espeleta 8, Bernardo 8, Sarr 6, Camacho 6, Catapusan 4, Zaldivar 4, Colonia 2, Pingoy 2, Macion 2, Magbuhos V. 1, Magbuhos W. 1, Maata 1, Mojica 0.
Quarters: 21-8; 46-22; 70-40; 82-56.
