UAAP: FEU staves off La Salle to keep Final Four hopes alive

Far Eastern University kept their name in the UAAP Season 88 Final Four gauntlet as they defeated De La Salle University, 84-83, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Tamaraws improved to 5-7 in the tournament standings, whilst also giving them their first win in three years against the Taft-based squad.

Swingman Kirby Mongcopa capped off an all-around game with 10 points, including the go-ahead jumper and the game-winning block in the dying seconds of the contest. The forward also contributed 10 rebounds and seven assists in the Tamaraws’ winning effort.

The final frame proved to be a grudge match between the two playoff-seeking schools, with Luis Pablo scoring four straight points to give La Salle a slender one-point lead with 1:32 left, 83-82.

With their final four hopes hanging in the balance, the Morayta-based team relied on Mongcopa, who swished in a mid-range jumper to give FEU the lead and ultimately the victory, 84-83.

All five starters of the Tamaraws entered double digits, with guard Janrey Pasaol leading the way with 17 points to go alone with seven assists. Center Mo Konateh chipped in 14 points and nine boards.

FEU tactician Sean Chambers emphasized the importance of these types of wins to re-establish the Tamaraws as frontrunners in the UAAP.

“We know La Salle is a championship team. As I left the house today, I kept saying to myself: We have to be one of the big teams in this tournament in order for us to finally arrive,” said Chambers. 

“We eventually had to have a sense of maturity where we can win one of these games when it's close–and if we can, we feel like the sky is the limit with this team,” the FEU head coach added.

Meanwhile, the Green Archers drop to 6-5 and will face Adamson University next. Veteran Earl Abadam led all scorers with 18 markers, whilst Mike Phillips followed suit with a double-double, 14 points and 19 rebounds.

Scores:

FEU - Pasaol 17, Konateh, 14, Bautista 12, Mongcopa 10, Daa 10, Felipe 9, Montemayor 7, Owens 5, Ona 0, Jones 0.

La Salle - Abadam 18, Macalalag 14, Phillips 14, Pablo 11, Cortez 10, Dungo 4, Gollena 4, Nwankwo 4, Melencio 2, Quines 2.

Quarters: 16-19, 46-36, 67-64, 84-83.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News