NEARLY in the cellar and struggling for most parts this season, Far Eastern University stole the thunder from National University last night.
Showing they wanted it more, the Tamaraws outlasted the Bulldogs 47-44 for their second straight win in the 85th UAAP basketball tournament at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
An Omar John basket pulled NU to within 44-45 with still 1:25 to go but an L-Jay Gonzales driving layup gave FEU more separation, only 17.6 ticks left.
Bulldogs’ rookie Kean Baclaan’s last-gasp heave from near halfcourt missed the mark that completed the Tams’ gutsy triumph in the low-scoring duel.
Bryan Sajonia scattered 12 points for FEU, while Gonzales had nine markers, five rebounds, and three assists, and two steals.
Jorick Bautista also added nine points, while Patrick Tchuente hauled down 18 boards along with six markers for the Tams, who scored a fitting follow-up to their 75-60 drubbing of University of Santo Tomas five days ago and improved to 2-5.
NU, coming off a stunning 80-76 decision over La Salle last Wednesday, fell to 5-2 in a tie with Ateneo for third.
FEU coach Olsen Racela pointed to his charges’ defense that proved to be among the keys in their big win.
“It was a defensive game. We needed their defensive mindset going into this game against NU. Pababaan ng score ang nangyari ngayon but our defense gave us the chance in this game,” Racela said.
“I’m just proud of the way they played. (It was a) total team effort not just from LJ but lahat ng ginamit ko,” he added.
Earlier, Ateneo ripped University of the East 91-76 for its fifth win and solo third.
Dave Ildefonso sizzled with 20 points, on top of four rebounds for the Blue Eagles, while Kai Ballungay complemented him with 14 markers, five boards, and two assists.
Rence Padrigao and BJ Andrade had 11 points each as Ateneo scored a big follow-up to its 76-55 whipping of Adamson University last Wednesday and climbed to 5-2.
The Red Warriors failed to recover from a 77-84 defeat to defending champion University of the Philippines five days ago and fell to 3-4 in a tie with the Soaring Falcons and La Salle.
“We’re comfortable with where we’re at,” said Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin. “Of course, we’d like to have a higher placing but the two games we lost were competitive games. Obviously, UP is the standard-setter in the league right now and La Salle, you know that’s a rivalry game,” Eagles tactician Tab Baldwin said.
“When you look at La Salle’s record now, you might think that’s a disappointing loss for us. While it is disappointing when you put it in context, anything can happen in a La Salle-Ateneo game,” he added.
