UAAP: Tams tame streaking Tigers

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws felled the first-seeded University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 87-60, Thursday, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in the 75th season of the UAAP.   Terrence Romeo scored 16 in the first half to lead FEU with 19 points and five rebounds. Anthony Hargrove and Roger Pogoy had 13 markers each and combined for 15 boards while Arvie Bringas added 10 points.   The Tamaraws shot 38-of-62 from the field for 61.3 percent, the highest shooting percentage recorded since 2003.   "We started well pero nawala na yung momentum sa pagdating ng third and fourth quarters," said Tams head coach Bert Flores.   "Pinag-usapan na namin yan na kapag lumamang kami, hahabol ang UST, so pinaghandaan namin yan," said Flores. The Tigers never got closer than 21 points. Romeo sizzled in the early minutes with eight points, including back-to-back triples, for a 10-6 lead for the Tamaraws. The Tigers were stymied by FEU's halfcourt defense and were forced into several bad shots late in the clock. Meanwhile, the Tams rattled off eight unanswered points, capped by an RR Garcia floater. UST finally scored as Jeric Fortuna cut to the rim for two points, ending a four-minute drought from the field, 18-8.   FEU came right back as Mike Tolomia drained two charities at the 2:24 mark, then followed up with a reverse layup on the next possession. Romeo buried two pull-up jumpers in the final minute for an 8-1 run to end the first period with FEU firmly in the driver's seat, 26-9.   Karim Abdul opened the second quarter with a layup for UST, but the success was short-lived. The Tams shored up their interior defense as Tolomia hit a triple on the other end, while Mac Belo and Chris Sentchu completed a 7-2 run for the FEU, 33-11.   Aljon Mariano drove for two at the 6:41 mark to end a three-minute drought, but then Roger Pogoy scored FEU's next five off offensive rebounds and drives. Garcia walked to the line for a three, and a bucket by Romeo completed a 10-2 run for the Tamaraws. A chance putback by Paolo Pe at 3:23 made it a 43-17 game.   The basket would be the Tigers' last make from the field in the first half. FEU went 4-2 in the last two minutes, highlighted by a breakaway slam by Hargrove, to lead 47-19 over the Tigers.   UST came out with more firepower in the second half, but the Tamaraws matched them nearly basket for basket: an Abdul layup met by a Hargrove putback, and triples by Fortuna and neutralized by two corner threes from Roger Pogoy, 55-27.   Clark Bautista came alive for UST midway through the third, sending home a fastbreak layup at the 5:03 mark. Romeo went 1 for 3 from the free throw line on the next FEU possession, and Bautista capitalized with consecutive triples for a solo 7-1 run, 56-35.   But the run would not last as Hargrove and Arvie Bringas scored close to the basket for six unanswered. Mariano briefly interrupted the blitz with a triple and a long two at around the two minute mark, but Gyrann Mendoza replied with a long two, and a Garcia drop pass led to a buzzer-beating layup by Carl Cruz, 66-40.   In the fourth quarter, Mark Bringas led the second unit with six straight points against an and-one play by Mariano. Refusing to go down without a fight, a basket by Louie Vigil triggered a 10-2 run for UST, including four from Abdul. Hargrove halted the run with split charities at 3:36, and the Tams put their feet down with a 9-7 run that handed UST their second loss. Mariano led UST with 15 points and seven rebounds. Jeric Fortuna had 12 points and six assists, while MVP leader Karim Abdul was held to only 11 points and nine rebounds.   UST performed poorly from beyond the arc, converting only 6 of 30 attempts, or 20 percent. In contrast, they only took seven free throws for the entire game, making all but one.   The Tamaraws feasted on rebounds and second-chance opportunities, besting UST with respective 42-31 and 16-9 margins. - RAF, GMA News The scores:   FEU 87: Romeo 19, Pogoy 13, Hargrove 13, A Bringas 10, M Bringas 8, Tolomia 7, Garcia 5, Sentchu 4, Mendoza 4, Belo 2, Cruz 2, Inigo 0, Jose 0, Guererro 0   UST 60: Mariano 15, Fortuna 12, Abdul 11, Bautista 8, Vigil 4, Ferrer 4, Teng 2, Pe 2, Daquioag 2, Lo 0, Hainga 0, Garrido 0, Afuang 0   Quarter scores: 26-9, 47-19, 64-40, 87-60