The Far Eastern University Tamaraws were able to notch a character-building win against neighbors University of the East Red Warriors, taking a 67-59 win to return to the win column, Sunday evening at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
King Tamaraw Raymar Jose led the FEU charge, notching a monster double-double with 11 points and 22 huge rebounds. Monbert Argon added 16 markers, six coming in the final frame, that helped buck UE’s upset bid.
“Siyempre masaya ako kasi galing kami sa talo. Ngayon, buti naman naka-bounce back kami,” the soft-spoken big man said about his performance. “Pag na-mimiss nila shot nila, nandun lang ako laging nakaabang.”
For Racela, this was a character building win after losing to the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Wednesday.
“It’s a test of character for us. The Ateneo loss was tough for us,” FEU head coach Nash Racela shared. “I was looking at how we are able to bounce back after it. Again, we are able to do it after the Adamson game and I was confident with this game.”
More than their will to bounce back, the defending UAAP Champions’ will to win was also tested by the UE Red Warriors.
After leading by as much as 12 points, 58-46, early in the final frame, the pressing and physical UE defense shackled the Tamaraws, holding their opponents scoreless for six minutes.
Things also got testy for both squads, as the physicality of the game resulted in an unsportsmanlike foul and a disqualifying foul called. With 4:33 remaining in the game, transferee Alvin Pasaol, who had knocked down a triple to cut the FEU lead to seven with 6:09 remaining, was called for an offensive foul against Kimlee Bayquin. The force of the charge triggered a retaliation from Bayquin, resulting in an unsportsmanlike foul.
The most crucial of calls though was made with 1:26 left in the game. After a Clark Derige three that sliced the FEU lead to just three, 62-59, with 1:26 remaining, Wilson Bartolome clobbered Ron Dennison during a box out scenario resulting to a disqualifying foul called on the UE rookie.
Free throws by Jojo Trinidad that came from the call and an excellent pass by Jose on a cutting Arong stopped the Tamaraws’ bleeding and gave the defending champions a 66-59 edge to close-out the game.
Racela added that the win was extra special, since the squad had been missing the services of Richard Escoto, who was still recovering from a bad fall he sustained against Adamson, and Wendell Comboy, who had a freak accident at practice last Saturday.
“We were able to do it without our two rotation players,” Racela shared. “Si Richard, it’s from the game against Adamson – yung bumagsak siya nun. He was having a hard time going into this game. Si Wendell, he got hurt sa practice yesterday. We won’t take the risk.”
“We are happy that a lot of guys stepped up for us and they were able to execute the gameplan.”
The Tamaraws were able to offset their 23 turnover outing by out-rebounding the Red Warriors, 53 to 38, that led to an 11-to-1 advantage in second-chance points.
Mark Olayon led UE with 12 points while Clark Derige added nine markers.
The FEU Tamaraws (2-2) will have a one week break before facing the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (0-3) on Sunday, September 25, at 2:00pm. The UE Red Warriors (0-3) look to enter the win column as they takes on the same team on Wednesday, September 28 at 2:00pm.
The Scores:
FEU (67) – Arong 16, Inigo 12, Jose 11, Bayquin 6, Dennison 5, Trinidad 4, Holmqvist 4, Ebona 4, Tuffin 3, Orizu 2, Bienes 0.
UE (59) – Olayon 12, Derige 9, Bartolome 6, Palma 6, Charcos 5, Pasaol 5, Varilla 4, Manalang 3, Abanto 3, Batiller 3, De Leon 2, Acuno 1, Armenio 0, Larupay 0, Gagate 0.
Quarterscores: 19-15, 42-32, 55-32, 67-59
