UAAP: FEU stays unbeaten with 77-67 win over UST

Make it six straight wins in UAAP Season 76 for the raging Tamaraws.
 
The Far Eastern University Tamaraws again relied on the three-pronged attack of Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia, and Mike Tolomia to trample the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 77-67, on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
 
“6-0 is the same as 1-0. It’s one thing I have learned as a coach,” said FEU mentor Nash Racela, “6-0 doesn’t guarantee anything. Those are just numbers.”

[Review the play-by-play of this game here]

While the Tams are a win shy of sweeping the first round, the Growling Tigers incurred only their second loss of the season, to fall to 3-2.
 
FEU played a close game in the first two quarters, leading by only two points at the half, 39-37, but they went on to outrun and outscore the Growling Tigers in the second half 38-30. The only squad without a loss in the UAAP went on a decisive 11-3 run early in the fourth quarter and maintained the lead until the final buzzer sounded.
 
“I think it’s getting better [their teamwork]. It’s a work in progress I always say that,” said Racela. “Basta importante sa amin is we sustain. That’s the biggest question eh, the consistency, the sustainability, kasi even all of us, with our personal lives, we’re not consistent.”
 
The trio of Romeo, Garcia, and Tolomia,  aptly called the MRT Express [Mike, RR, and Terrence], combined for 48 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, while Mac Belo chimed in with 14 points and nine rebounds.

The team converted 30 of their 66 shots (46 percent) and connected on 11 of their 30 three-point attempts (37 percent). The Team also assisted on 20 of their field goals, most coming on key possessions.
 
“That’s something I appreciate about our players, they make the extra pass”, said Coach Racela.
 
Both teams eagerly fired at each other in the first quarter, as UST opted for an inside-outside game, which the Tamaraws matched up by dumping three-pointers on the UST defense. Clark Bautista caught some fire for the Tigers, scoring seven points for them, while the Tams drained four early triples. An and-one play by Karim Abdul gave UST some breathing room at the end of the first, as the Tigers led 21-18 after the first 10 minutes.
 
In the second, Aljon Mariano converted on two trips to the hoop for four points, engaging Romeo in a point-for-point duel, until a tough shot by Ed Daquioag inside prompted Coach Nash Racela to call a timeout. The green and gold then scored six straight points, five points by Garcia, before forward Roger Pogoy committed an unsportsmanlike foul on Kevin Ferrer. The masked man made two of his four free throws and eked out two more off a reverse lay-up to snare the lead from the Tams, 31-29.
 
A triple by Garcia swung the lead in his side’s favor, but Abdul scored four straight points to make it 35-32 for UST. Mendoza made FEU’s seventh triple of the ball game, and Garcia added four straight to give them a four-point lead, 39-35. Luckily for UST, a short jumper by Bautista sliced the lead to just two points, 39-37, heading to the half.
 
The Tams capitalized on their three-point shooting, swishing in seven triples out of 15 attempts (47 percent) by the intermission. They also had the upper hand in the rebounding department, grabbing 22 compared to UST’s 19.

Garcia led his team at the half with 12 points, with Romeo and Belo adding seven points apiece.
 
The Tigers made one of only five attempts from three-point land, but added five second-chance points and six turnover points off seven FEU ball-handling miscues. All-in-all, they notched 15 out of 37 of their shots (41 percent), with their starters accounting for 35 points.

Abdul top-scored for his team at the half with 11 points, followed by Ferrer and Bautista with nine points each.

 
Both team scored in small bursts until they were caught in another deadlock at 46-all, after a split by Ferrer. The Tamaraws responded with a 10-2 stampede, with four different Tams stomping on UST’s defense. Abdul, Mariano, and Ferrer, who have emerged as the team’s big three so far in three quarters, managed to put up eight points before the third quarter ended, but not without FEU hitting their ninth and tenth three-pointers to end the third stanza at 62-56.
 
After Cruz split his free throws while Mariano made both of his, the Tamaraws went on another scoring rush, confusing the Tiger defense with fast break baskets, a run which gave them a baker’s dozen lead at 74-61. After Ferrer made his free throws to scrape two points off the lead, 74-63, the Tams and the Tigers entered a confusing sequence where neither teams were able to score for a span of a minute, until Bautista drew a foul and sank the ensuing free throws 74-65.
 
The Tams, despite slowing their game down, continued slashing as Pogoy kept the lead at double digits, 76-65. The Tigers inevitably ran out of juice, as evidenced by a sequence that saw Abdul miss close shots, two free throws, and commit a turnover. Free throws by Belo and a shot by Abdul inside locked in the win for Far Eastern U, 77-67.
 
When the dust settled, the Growling Tigers out-rebounded the Tams, 44-40, and won the shootout at the free throw line, adding 15 points out of 24 tries compared to FEU’s six makes from the charity stripe. However, the reigning PCCL champs struggled to score from the perimeter, making only two three-pointers out of 16 attempts (13 percent).

Last season's finalists also ran out of gas towards the end of the fourth quarter (Abdul played 33 minutes while Ferrer played 32), as they managed only a paltry 11 points in the final frame.
 
Abdul put up MVP-caliber numbers once again, tallying 21 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks in the loss. Ferrer, despite the mask, notched 18 points and hauled down seven rebounds, while Bautista, filling in for the injured Jeric Teng, added 14 points. Mariano, still hobbled, managed to put up 10 points.

UST swingman Jeric Teng continued to be evaluated on a day-to-day basis after suffering an anterior labrum tear in their loss against National University. According to reports, he is undergoing platelet rich plasma therapy to help his shoulder recover. - CLP, GMA News
 

The scores:

FEU 77: Romeo 19, Garcia 17, Belo 14, Tolomia 12, Mendoza 6, Pogoy 5, Hargove 2, Jose 1, Cruz 1, Inigo 0, Sentcheu 0

UST 67: Abdul 21, Ferrer 18, Bautista 14, Mariano 10, Lo 2, Daquioag 2, So 0, Lao 0, Pe 0
 
Quarter scores: 18-21, 39-37, 62-56, 77-67