JORICK Bautista came out and did damage on the Blue Eagles yet again.
The fourth-year guard was once again Ateneo's boogeyman, striking when it mattered most, as Far Eastern University took the 75-68 victory to start the second round of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Bautista scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, including two backbreaking triples to break a 67-all deadlock in the final 1:22. His three with 28.7 seconds left made it a 73-68 affair and was the deathknell for the Blue Eagles, who suffered their fourth straight defeat.
Janrey Pasaol was also pivotal for the Tamaraws with 15 points, 13 assists, and five boards; Kirby Mongcopa just missed out on a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds; and Mo Konateh braved through a hurting right leg for 15 points, 17 boards, and three blocks.
"When we were down by four, I just sat down and let them do their job," said coach Sean Chambers of Bautista and Pasaol, as the guard duo put FEU on their shoulders when they found themselves down, 67-63, in the final three minutes.
And by showing that trust, his boys delivered, earning back-to-back victories to move up to 3-5.
Dom Escobar paced Ateneo with 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals, while Waki Espina chimed in 12 points, six boards, and four dimes in the Ateneo defeat to fall to an even 4-4.
The Scores:
FEU 75 - Bautista 20, Mongcopa 16, Pasaol 15, Konateh 15, Ona 4, Salangsang 3, Felipe 2, Jones 0, Owens 0, Montemayor 0, Macapagal 0.
ATENEO 68 - Escobar 15, Espina 12, Tuano 9, Lazo 8, Espinosa 6, Fjellvang 5, Ladi 4, Lazaro 4, Bahay 3, Bongo 2, Ong 0.
Quarters: 17-20, 37-37, 55-54, 75-68.
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