FEU trips upset-hungry Adamson in UAAP caging

Far Eastern University coach Glenn Capacio was surprised that his squad managed to pull off a 63-60 win against Adamson University on Thursday given how his Tamaraws played against the Falcons in the UAAP men's basketball tournament.

“Di ko nga alam kung nanalo nga kami ngayon," said Capacio after posting his second win in three starts. “Hindi ko expect na manalo dahil ang sama ng shooting at execution namin." The Tamaraws were kept by the Falcons lagging as Adamson used their running game to outmaneuver the much taller FEU five. “Pero mas maganda ang 2-1 kaysa sa 1-2, so I’ll take it," added Capacio, who’s Tamaraws struggled for four quarters. But the Tamaraws, with point guards Andy Barroca and RR Garcia along with big man Reil Cervantes, teamed up in the pay-off period to give FEU a 57-55 edge 4;22 left to play. The Falcons returned the favor and started their own rally to threaten at 60-61 on a Leo Canuday split free throw. On the following FEU ball possession, with less than 40 seconds remaining, the Tams were able to secure a 63-60 lead on a Barroca jumper. Barroca sank the final shot only after FEU’s three tries that saw Garcia missing twice from the perimeter and Cervantes failing to sink a putback. The Falcons had the chance to tie the match and force overtime but FEU’s Aldrech Ramos’ defense on Lester Alvarez deflected Adamson’s three-point attempt that never hit the rim or the basket. “Hirap kami sa adjustment sa larong ito. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ang sama talaga ng inilaro namin," said Capacio. FEU finished with a 39.1 percent clip behind a 25-of-64 field goal shooting compared to Adamson’s 23-of-56 (41.1 percent) shooting. The Tams were also miserable at the free throw line going 10-of-27 (37 percent). “Ang sabi ko sa mga bata ay sinasabi sa mga peryodiko na kami ang team to beat, pero hindi ito dapat mabasa lang kungdi dapat makita sa floor," added Capacio. “Pero masaya pa rin ako dahil hindi nagpabaya ng mga beterano ko tulad ni Barroca at Cervantes. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV