AFTER a woeful first round campaign, Far Eastern University rookie coach Sean Chambers boldly claimed his troops can still turn their bid around.
The Tamaraws have gone 2-0 since.
Showing it wanted more, FEU humbled National University 65-58 last night to kickstart a winning run in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
With the Bulldogs trailing 56-57, Royce Alforque drove hard in the middle and released a high-arching floater that kissed the glass and dropped in, giving the Tams more breathing room, before following it up with another layup that made it 61-56, only 1:19 to go.
PJ Palacielo quickly answered on the other end with a basket, but Jorick Bautista drained a dagger step back triple with 9.7 seconds left for FEU.
“I don’t want to sound like a broken record but like I said a couple weeks back, this second round will be a lot different for us,” Chambers, a PBA legendary import, said. “We’re getting comfortable and acclimated. We’re understating our goals and our game plans.”
Added Alforque on his endgame heroics: “Instinct lang talaga. Si Jorick dini-deny talaga, sa akin napupunta iyong bola so talagang nag-isip na lang ako ng paraan.”
The triumph served as a big follow up to the Morayta-based five’s 76-72 decision over Adamson University last Saturday and hiked its mark to 3-8.
NU failed to recover from a sorry 68-70 setback to the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday and reeled off to 2-7.
Gambian center Mo Konateh unleashed a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds, to go with two blocks for FEU while Bautista chimed in 17 markers.
Veejay Pre added 12 points, seven boards, and five assists, while Alforque had nine markers, seven caroms, two steals, and a block.
The Tams took a 29-24 lead at the half but fell 44-48 going into the fourth canto.
But FEU outgunned the Bulldogs 21-10 in the final period to avenge a 60-62 loss to NU when they first met last Sept. 14.
Jolo Manansala carried the fight for the Bulldogs with 11 points and four rebounds while Palacielo had 10 and six.
Jake Figueroa also got nine markers and 13 rebounds for NU.
The Tams have moved on from a so-so first half performance of the cage wars and a second-round surge will certainly boost their lofty goal of making it back to the Fina Four after a two-season absence for the once mighty and perennial contenders.
