by Waylon Galvez
Game Saturday (Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City)
3:30 p.m. – Adamson vs UP
Far Eastern University finally found a way to beat Adamson in women’s action as the Lady Tamaraws downed the Lady Falcons, 67-63, in the playoff for No. 2 in the semifinals in the 81st UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Clare Castro delivered the goods as she fired 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in leading FEU to an outright trip to the semifinal round with a twice-to-beat incentive.
Down by one midway in the fourth quarter, Castro scored four straight points to give the Lady Tamaraws a 62-59 lead with 5:18 left. Jo Razalo and Mar Prado made baskets to give Adamson back the lead.
Blanche Bahuyan, however, put the Lady Tamaraws back on top with a layup. Following a defensive stop, Castro split her free throws, and then forced Kat Araja to miss an attempt.
An unsportsmanlike foul on Razalo against Valerie Mamaril in the final moments ended Adamon’s hopes and gave FEU the win – a big one after the Lady Tamaraws went 0-2 against the Lady Falcons in the eliminations.
“Last year we reached the Final Four. Now, we’re able to get twice-to-beat,” FEU head coach Bert Flores said in Filipino. “I told the players, ‘they’ll not beat us three straight games’.”
Flores commended the team for their effort on the defensive end, which he said made the difference.
“At least our defense worked, the hard work of the team paid off. Also, Mamaril showed her maturity and Castro finished strong. In a previous game we struggled, now we’re able to finish strong,” he added.
Mamaril and Bahuyan also had solid outings for FEU with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Jamie Alcoy led Adamson with 25 points and seven rebounds, while Prado had 20 points and 13 rebounds, but shot 6-for-19 from the field, including 2-of-8 from the three-point area.
Despite the setback, Adamson’s title hopes remains alive as it plays the UST Growling Tigresses in the knockout quarterfinals on Sunday also at the Big Dome after UST ousted the La Salle Lady Archers in the first game, 79-67.
