Entering their game against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws had a set game plan: clog the lane and defend the paint.
“Sila yung one of our main guys sa team namin kaya malaking responsibility, hindi lang sa bigs namin kung hindi sa amin,” shared Ino Comboy as FEU missed the services of Prince Orizu (injury – sprained left ankle) and Arvin Tolentino (suspension). “Kailangan namin i-double yung effort namin, i-double yung lahat ng ginagawa namin sa depensa.
“Malaki kasi talaga yung kawalan ni Prince, lalo na yung last two games namin may dominating [foreign student-athletes].”
But little did they know that Paul Desiderio had something in store for the Tamaraws.
Desiderio, a graduating Fighting Maroon, started off with guns blazing, knocking down six triples in the first quarter alone.
“Oo nagulat ako! Yun yung mahirap eh. Yung game plan namin wala si Prince, alam namin aatakahin yung loob kaya talagang dinefend namin yung loob. Ang ginawa naman nila, nag-triple sila sa labas,” lamented the fourth-year Tamaraw.
“Yun yung mahirap depensahan.”
Desiderio eventually ended up with a career-high 31 points on 12-for-19 shooting. Bright Akhuetie, on the other hand, had 20 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks.
“Na-challenge talaga ako nun kasi kailangan namin mag-extend out sa kanya eh. Tapos kailangan din namin mag-collapse para sa big man namin,” added Comboy, who himself finished with 12 points, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals in FEU’s 82-95 loss.
But if there’s one former Tamaraw that Comboy and the team missed for this game, it would have been Ron Dennison – a player who frustrated Desiderio in his first four years in the UAAP.
“Si Ron kasi talagang leader siya sa team namin nun eh, mas lalo na sa depensa. Kahit mainit yung kalaban, hindi siya nado-down,” shared the native of San Mateo, Rizal, who stands at 6-feet.
“Nakaka-miss siya, lalo na kanina.”
Down to a 5-5 slate with four games left, Comboy remains hopeful that they can still turn things around and send off their six seniors on a high note.
“Masyadong challenging yung dumadaan sa amin. Kailangan lang namin tibayan yung loob namin tsaka mag-stay positive. Hindi pa naman huli yung lahat, hindi pa naman kami out sa Final Four,” he said.
“May chance pa rin naman.”
