IT’S not how one team starts but how it finishes the game.
Far Eastern University-Diliman proved this at the expense of a bewildered Adamson High School five, scoring a come-from-behind 85-74 victory yesterday in Game 1 of their best-of-3 finals duel for the 85th UAAP juniors’ basketball tournament crown at The Arena in San Juan.
Kirby Mongcopa notched a double-double of 20 points and 20 rebounds, to go with eight assists for the Baby Tamaraws, while Luke Felipe chipped in 14 markers, five boards and two steals.
John Rey Pasaol and Jedric Daa also had 13 points each, while Dwyne Miranda added 10 points and eight rebounds as FEU-D scored a fitting follow up to a 71-65 decision over Nazareth School of National University in their knockout Final Four tiff five days ago.
More importantly, the Baby Tams moved within a win of their first title since 2017.
The Allan Albano-mentored FEU-D side can wrap up the race-to-2 series in the second game this Friday at the same venue.
A deciding Game 3, if needed, will be played Tuesday next week, March 21, also at the San Juan-based arena.
The Baby Falcons came off a 62-55 triumph over University of Santo Tomas also in the semifinals last week.
The Baby Tams fell into an 11-point first half deficit.
“Iyong first na nilaro namin, hindi pang-playoffs. Iyon ang sinabi ko sa kanila sa halftime na maglaro kami na pang-playoff,” FEU coach Allan Albano said. “Feeling ko ramdam nila iyong panalo nila noong Final Four. Mabuti na lang at nag-respond iyong mga players sa second half.
“They did their best na manalo rito pero hindi pa rin ako satisfied as a playoff game or championship game. Iyong intensity nila kulang,” he added.
A Mongcopa three-pointer gave FEU-D a 69-59 spread at the 6:29 mark of the payoff period and did not look back from there.
Peter Rosillo paced Adamson with 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Carlo Bonzalida got 18 markers and 13 caroms.
