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UAAP: Belo shoots FEU into finals as Tamaraws end La Salle's reign
Teammates mobbed FEU forward Mac Belo after his game-winning three-pointer. KC Cruz
Far Eastern University put an abrupt end to La Salle's reign as the king of UAAP basketball courtesy of a Mac Belo three-point shot at the buzzer for a 67-64 victory on Wednesday.
The Tamaraws set up a championship duel against National University, which advanced to the finals earlier in the day after winning over Ateneo.
Belo nailed the biggest shots for FEU down the stretch, scoring 12 of his team's last 16 points of the game. His three-pointer with 1:09 remaining gave the Tamaraws a 64-61 advantage.
But that wasn't enough to keep down La Salle, which strung together three quick points to tie the game at 64-all.
The Tamaraws, however, had one final shot with 24 seconds remaining. FEU star guard Mike Tolomia ran down the clock, before attacking the basket to draw defenders. That left Belo with enough daylight in the corner to nail the buzzer-beater.
"Unforgettable moment so sobrang blessed. 'Yung last shot ko na 'yun dine-dedicate ko kay Lord talaga," Belo said of his game-winning trey, which he described as "tsamba."
Belo carried the Tams with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Tolomia finished with 14 points and six assists. Roger Pogoy added eight points and 11 boards.
Jeron Teng led the Archers with 13 points and six assists, while Jason Perkins chipped in a double-double performance with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Big man Arnold Van Opstal added 11 points.
Down 24-17 in the first quarter, La Salle rallied for a strong start in the second to momentarily take the lead, 30-26, after a Julian Sargent trey. But FEU answered back and seized the lead again to put the Tams ahead by five, 42-37, at the half.
FEU maintained their lead into the fourth, but DLSU took over after a three-point play from Van Opstal and another Sargent triple with 4:35 left, 59-55. Belo answered with back to back baskets, but Perkins gave La Salle a breather, 61-59.
But it was then that Achie Iñigo tied the game and poised his team for the final charge as Belo drained the winning treys to catapult the Tams into the finals after two years of absence. — JST, GMA News
"Unforgettable moment so sobrang blessed. 'Yung last shot ko na 'yun dine-dedicate ko kay Lord talaga," Belo said of his game-winning trey, which he described as "tsamba."
The FEU community showed up in force. KC Cruz
Belo carried the Tams with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Tolomia finished with 14 points and six assists. Roger Pogoy added eight points and 11 boards.
Jeron Teng led the Archers with 13 points and six assists, while Jason Perkins chipped in a double-double performance with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Big man Arnold Van Opstal added 11 points.
Down 24-17 in the first quarter, La Salle rallied for a strong start in the second to momentarily take the lead, 30-26, after a Julian Sargent trey. But FEU answered back and seized the lead again to put the Tams ahead by five, 42-37, at the half.
FEU maintained their lead into the fourth, but DLSU took over after a three-point play from Van Opstal and another Sargent triple with 4:35 left, 59-55. Belo answered with back to back baskets, but Perkins gave La Salle a breather, 61-59.
But it was then that Achie Iñigo tied the game and poised his team for the final charge as Belo drained the winning treys to catapult the Tams into the finals after two years of absence. — JST, GMA News
