It is widely known that Jorick Bautista has been the top scorer for Far Eastern University, particularly during its first two wins in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament.
In the first round, Bautista scored 14 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, propelling the Tamaraws to a thrilling 66-65 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
He followed that performance with a nine-point contribution in overtime during a 76-72 win against the Adamson Soaring Falcons last Saturday.
In what turned out to be another nail-biting finish during their second-round encounter with National University, Bautista needed some help.
And he found it in Royce Alforque, as they lifted FEU to its first-ever winning streak in the Sean Chambers era, avenging their 60-62 defeat in the first round.
As the Bulldogs closed the gap to just one point, Alforque converted back-to-back bank shots to extend the Tamaraws’ lead to five, 61-56, with only 1:19 remaining in the contest.
“Instinct ko na lang ‘yon kasi si Jorick, dinedeny talaga ‘eh, ‘eh sa akin napupunta yung bola. Talagang nagisip na lang ako ng paraan. Tapos nagra-run pa yung NU so kailangan namin i-stop yung momentum nila and ayun, na-shoot yung tira ko,” the 23-year-old guard from Cebu shared.
Bautista expressed pride not only in Alforque’s clutch performance but also in how the latter shone during FEU’s 65-58 victory over NU.
Furthermore, Bautista credited their late-game heroics against the Bulldogs to the strong bond he shares with Alforque – a partnership that began during their time with the Baby Tamaraws in high school.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Sobrang sarap kasi si Royce matagal na po talaga kami magkasama since high school pa po magkakilala na po talaga kami. Grabe na yung bond namin saka alam ko na nandiyan talaga si Royce para sa akin always po,” Bautista revealed.
With this camaraderie in mind, Alforque felt immense pride in how his veteran presence, alongside Bautista, Cholo Anonuevo, and Miguel Ona, has helped guide the team.
Their hard work and the lessons learned after a narrow first-round loss to NU are beginning to pay off.
After starting the season with five consecutive losses, the Tamaraws have now won three of their last four games, keeping their slim Final Four hopes alive with a 3-6 record.
“Naguusap kami ng mga kasama kong veterans, sila Jorick, sila Cholo, si Aaron, at si Ona. Sinasabi ko sa kanila na kailangan natin ipakita kasi kami yung tinitignan ng mga bata. Puro mga bata yung mga kasama namin and we lead as an example, sabi nga ni coach,” Alforque shared.
“Noong naghahabol yung NU this game, talagang sinabi lang namin, especially doon sa lima na naglalaro sa loob, na kailangan namin hindi mag-give up. Possession by possession yung ginawa namin, and ‘yun, nagbunga naman.”
