UAAP: FEU stays undefeated, drops Adamson

(Updated 10:48pm) Another game, another close escape by the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. The Tams survived another late scare, this time against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, but once again emerged victorious, 65-62, Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, in the 75th season of the UAAP. "Mas kumpleto ang Adamson last year pero aggressive parin sila, so sinasabihan ko ang mga players ko,” said FEU head coach Bert Flores. After a Harry Petilos basket gave Adamson an early one-point lead, 51-50 in the fourth quarter, FEU exploded for seven straight, good for a six-point lead. The Falcons countered with four straight markers by Rodney Brondial and then a triple by Allen Etrone to put them up again by a solitary point, but the Tams turned to their closer from last game, Cris Tolomia, and he responded with five straight, 62-58. On the run, Jericho Cruz found Eric Camson with a pretty pass to make it a single possession game, but Terrence Romeo got a swipe and completed an and-one play to inflate FEU's advantage to five, 65-60, with 2:18 left. There were only 19 seconds left when Eric Camson was sent to the line, where he made both charities to get within three, 65-62. It took Adamson 2.6 seconds to give up their first remaining team foul, but the Falcons then got the steal on the succeeding inbounds. Unfortunately for them, Roider Cabrera missed on the triple try, dooming the Falcons. Surprisingly, this was already the biggest winning margin for the Tamaraws, last year's runners-up, after beginning the season with a one-point win over USt, followed by a two-point victory against DLSU. Coach Flores admitted that after these "heart attack games." his team could easily have been 0-3 at this point in the season. Third year guard Terrence Romeo carried FEU early on, but the Falcons struck back when EJ Camson drained a jumper from the top of the key, and Alex Nuyles' slashing yielded four points for Adamson to stay with the Tamaraws, 11-10. In the final two minutes of the first quarter, Adamson repeatedly found themselves at the free throw line. However, they went 2 for 8 from the stripe, allowing RR Garcia and Mac Belo to tie the game once more, 15-all, after the first period. Harry Petilos opened the second quarter with an athletic move from the baseline, but then on the other end of the court, America big man Anthony Hargrove was called for an unsportsmanlike foul for elbowing Rodney Brondial in the face while angling for a rebound. Adamson couldn't capitalize on the charities and the extra possession though, allowing FEU to continue their run. Garcia nailed a pull-up jumper in the lane, but Petilos countered with a three-ball from the top of the circle. That was the sole bright spot of the AdU offense however, as the Tamaraws overwhelmed Adamson's defenses from all over the floor, with Romeo and Garcia firing 11 points in the ensuing 18-5 run which planted FEU ahead, 33-22. An inbounds play by Etrone sparked six unanswered points for the Falcons in the final three minutes, but Romeo had the final say with a layup off a give and go, putting Adamson behind 35-28 at the break. The Falcons found their groove on offense when play resumed, but FEU exploited them on the glass, scoring their first six points in the quarter from offensive rebounds for a 41-32 tally. Etrone then scored five straight, igniting the Falcons to a 17-9 run that drew them within one, 50-49, after the third quarter. Adamson's bench provided some scrappy play, scoring 11 of their 21 points in the period. Terrence Romeo led the Tams with 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Former league MVP RR Garcia posted 12 points and four rebounds, while rookie Mac Belo came off the bench to score nine points and nine rebounds, including seven from the offensive glass. Reserve point guard Allen Etrone scored 13 points off the bench, including three of four from deep, to lead the Falcons. The frontcourt duo of EJ Camson and Rodney Brondial combined for 22 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Flores pointed out that the  loss of Adamson's two veteran point guards, Jerick Canada and Lester Alvarez, helped his team score 25 points off 19 Falcons turnovers. He also commended his wingmen, Roger Pogoy and Mac Belo, for holding Falcons standout Alex Nuyles to just two points in the matchup. Adamson was also hamstrung by some  miserable shooting from the line, as they made only 18-of-28 from the stripe in the close loss. FEU improved to 3-0 and remain the only undefeated team. They'll put that record to the test on Sunday against the UE Red Warriors. Adamson on the other hand, will face 0-2 team on the same day, the UP Fighting Maroons. - AMD, GMA News The scores: FEU 65: Romeo 23, Garcia 12, Belo 9, Tolomia 6, Ecoto 5, Hargrove 4, A Bringas 4, M Bringas 2, Pogoy 0, Cruz 0 ADU 62: Etrone 13, Camson 11, Brondial 11, Cruz 8, Petelios 7, Cabrera 4, Abrigo 4, Trollano 2, Nuyles 2, Rios 0, Monteclaro 0, Julkipli 0, Agustin 0 Quarter scoring: 15-15, 35-28, 50-49, 65-63