After failing to close out the UP Fighting Maroons last Wednesday, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws bounced back in a huge way, lambasting the Adamson University Soaring Falcons 72-53, Sunday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
“I’m still trying to understand college basketball. Hindi ko naiintindihan kung bakit how we can play that bad sa UP and then we play this great against Adamson,” said FEU head coach Olsen Racela. “Hinahanap ko pa ‘yung consistency from the players.”
The win moved the Tamaraws to a 5-1 slate in Group B of the 2017 Premier Cup to keep pace with the San Sebastian Stags. Adamson dropped to 6-2 to finish their elimination round campaign
Leading the way for the Tamaraws is Arvin Tolentino. The sweet-shooting big man almost outscored the entire Adamson team in the first half as he dropped 17 of his 22 points during that span. The Soaring Falcons, on the other hand, put up just 18 points during the first 20 minutes of the game.
“Iba ‘yung focus ni Arvin when he needs to, pero ‘yun ang hinahanap ko pa sa kanya, na kailangan he has to have that focus all throughout,” Racela remarked about the UAAP Season 77 Rookie of the Year. “Kailangan ‘yung personal motivation niya, it should be every time, every game, even in practice.”
Tolentino grabbed 10 boards as well while skipper Ron Dennison and Prince Orizu chipped in eight points and four rebounds each.
Adamson fell behind by as much as 28 points, 52-24, early in the third frame after a booming triple by Brandley Bienes and a basket by Orizu.
“Siguro, we caught Adamson on an off night. Alam ko na malayo pa ‘yung UAAP eh. And I know how strong the Adamson team is,” the PBA legend furthered as FEU shot a blistering 47 percent from the field compared to just 29 percent for Adamson. “Iba ‘yung nilaro namin, iba ‘yung offense namin in the first half, I think that spelled the difference.”
Moreover, the Tamaraws out-worked the young Falcons on the board, 50-34.
Tolentino’s former Ateneo teammate Jerie Pingoy paced Adamson with 13 points and three steals. Sean Manganti added 10 points and seven boards as FEU limited the backcourt of Jerrick Ahanmisi and Robbie Manalang to a combined 10 points on a horrid 3-for-22 shooting.
FEU will next face the San Sebastian Stags on Monday, June 12 at 11:15am.
The Scores:
FEU (72) – Tolentino 22, Dennison 8, Orizu 8, Inigo 7, Parker 5, Bienes 5, Escoto 4, Ramirez 3, Comboy 3, Trinidad 2, Nunag 2, Stockton 2, Ebona 1, Tuffin 0, Bayquin 0, Denila 0.
ADU (53) – Pingoy 13, Manganti 10, Camacho 7, Ahanmisi 5, Manalang 5, Sarr 4, Mustre 3, Vizcarra 3, Zaldivar 2, Ochea 1, Noble 0, Chua 0, Paranada 0, Frias 0.
Quarterscores: 20-11, 40-18, 57-38, 72-53.
