ALL of a sudden, the race for the last two spots in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball Final Four got much more interesting.
Far Eastern University, that young and spunky crew of first-year coach Sean Chambers, was the latest to complicate the seemingly set postseason picture by stunning University of the East, 59-51, on Sunday at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Banking on their fast start and steady free throw shooting down the stretch, the Tamaraws fanned hopes to their semifinal aspirations, as veterans Royce Alforque and Jorick Bautista secured the victory to bring their side up to 4-7.
The rookies, however, kickstarted the gears for FEU, when they altogether staged a 23-9 opener which increased to an 18-point edge, 31-13.
Veejay Pre, coming off his career game against University of Santo Tomas, unloaded 20 points, eight rebounds, and one block; Janrey Pasaol got seven points; and Jedric Daa only had three points, two boards, and two steals, but was a plus-14 on the court.
Bautista chimed in 12 points, four assists, and two rebounds, Alforque came close to a double-double with nine points and eight boards, and Mo Konateh held his own down low with 11 rebounds despite only scoring three.
“This is what I felt were going to be in the second round: this is the team I expect us to be,” said Chambers, doubling down on his end of first round prediction that the Tamaraws will be a problem
And a problem, they were.
With the whole team in the pink of health as compared to its previous contest, Chambers once again looked like a genius with his premonitions.
“This game, we were healthy. I expected us to have a breakout game and we’re gonna be solid from start to finish and that’s what we were,” he said.
Not only did it boost FEU’s Final Four hopes, it also rewarded idle La Salle (10-1) the first twice-to-beat advantage.
UE remains reeling
Meanwhile, the struggles continued for UE which stumbled to back-to-back losses and fell to its third defeat in four games in the second round to drop to 6-5.
A big part of that was the Red Warriors firing bricks from deep, shooting only 3-of-22 from the rainbow country for a paltry 13-percent, one that can’t be alleviated by Precious Momowei’s 18-point, 21-rebound, and 3-steal night.
Rain Maga also got a double-double with his 12 points and 11 boards in the defeat.
The Scores:
FEU 59 – Pre 20, Bautista 12, Alforque 9, Pasaol 7, Anonuevo 5, Konateh 3, Daa 3, Montemayor 0, Ona 0, Nakai 0.
UE 51 – Momowei 18, Maga 12, Abate 7, Lingolingo 5, J. Cruz-Dumont 4, Fikes 3, Mulingtapang 2, Galang 0, Wilson 0, H. Cruz-Dumont 0.
Quarters: 23-9, 34-20, 47-34, 59-51.
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