It has been 321 days since Far Eastern University last won a game in the UAAP and 1,830 days since it emerged victorious against Ateneo de Manila University.
On Saturday, the Tamaraws were able to achieve two significant milestones – beating the Blue Eagles to win their first game in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament and ending an eight-game losing streak to the same team.
For FEU coach Denok Miranda, who enjoyed his first win in the UAAP since succeeding Olsen Racela, this result was born out of his players’ determination to finally end their four-game losing start to the campaign.
“Ganda ng ano namin dahil total team effort – coaching staff, players, and our management,” said Miranda. “Tulong-tulong kami para makapanalo kami at least isa kasi alam namin sa sarili namin, bound to win kami nung mga succeeding games pero hindi kami pinalad ng Panginoon.
“Bumalik kami sa drawing board. Chineck namin yung sarili namin para makuha namin tong panalong to.”
The Tamaraws blew a 54-39 lead off an Aeron Bagunu basket with 8:33 left in the fourth quarter. The Blue Eagles made an 18-3 run courtesy of baskets from the likes of Kai Ballungay, Jared Brown, and Chris Koon.
However, they failed to maintain that momentum in the final seconds of regulation as well as in added time.
Just when it looked like FEU would fold, Ljay Gonzales converted back-to-back jumpers. That gave the Tamaraws a precious four-point lead with 35 seconds remaining, from which Ateneo never recovered.
Gonzales eventually finished the game with 21 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, leading the Tamaraws to their first win in five matches.
“Unang-una, nagpapasalamat kami kay God kasi Siya yung nagbibigay ng lakas sa amin,” said the fifth-year guard, who had been struggling prior to this game.
“Thankful din kami sa mga coaches kasi andiyan sila lagi sa amin na nagre-remind. Kanina nga, bad start ako. Pinagalitan ako ni Coach Denok. Gusto nga akong murahin bago maglaro nang maayos. Nireremind lang kami lagi ni Coach Denok para maglaro lang kami ng maglaro.
“Thankful din kami sa mga assistant coach. Happy kami na nakuha namin ito. Dami din naming lessons sa mga past games namin. Siguro, nadala namin yung mga kailangan naming dalhin dito. Inaalay ko rin ito sa mama ko kasi birthday niya ngayon eh,” the native of Isabela continued.
“May tiwala kasi ako sa sarili ko na kaya kong ma-shoot yung bola at may tiwala din si Coach Denok sa akin. Wala akong ibang iniisip kundi ma-shoot yung bola. Lagi niyang nireremind sa akin na dapat kung ganitong possession, dapat makashoot tayo.”
FEU will finish the first round against Adamson University this Wednesday and the University of Santo Tomas next Saturday. The Tamaraws are starting to build momentum that may help them keep their Final Four hopes alive.
Adamson and UST will not be pushovers, though, and getting more wins on the board will be challenging. For now, at least, the burden is off the Tamaraws’ backs.
“Sobrang saya namin talaga this game,” said Xyrus Torres, who scored 13 points for the Tamaraws. “Kailangan pa rin namin magtrabaho kasi lahat ng teams malalakas eh. Kailangan pa namin magtrabaho lalo na lahat ng mga teams nagwowork din, lalo na nakita kami manalo against defending champions.
“For sure, lahat ng teams pinaghahandaan kami. Sobrang saya lang din. Siguro masaya ngayon, pero magtatrabaho kami after nito.”
