It seemed like there was a Far Eastern University homecoming last Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
A collection of the best and brightest products of the Tamaraws basketball program were on hand to cheer for this batch of Tamaraws during their semifinals encounter against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles. From Arwind Santos and RR Garcia, to Mac Belo and Mike Tolomia, everyone was cheering their hearts out for their alma mater.
And it might have been the added boost the Tamaraws needed, rallying back from 10 points down to take a 62-61 win and send the series into a win-or-go-home game on Wednesday, November 30.
Leading the charge for FEU was King Tamaraw Raymar Jose. The fifth-year FEU student-athlete tallied 20 points and 23 rebounds, with seven points and 11 rebounds coming in the final frame alone.
It was a performance for the ages that awed Jose’s former teammates Belo, Tolomia, and Roger Pogoy.
“Ayaw magpatalo, lalung-lalo na si Jose.
“Nakita ko talaga na siya ang nagdala sa team kasi mga ilang minutes, walang maka-score, pero nagtiis lang sila. Tapos si Jose sinimulan niya sa rebounding talaga,” Tolomia said.
“Grabe yung heart niya,” UAAP Season 78 Men’s Basketball Finals Belo added. “Pero hindi naman na ako nagulat kasi ginagawa na naman niya yun dati sa practice. Grabe yung hugot niya pagdating sa game kasi grabe rin naman ‘yung training niya sa practice.”
“Never ako nag-20 rebounds. Si Raymar, nakaka-dalawa na,” the now-Blackwater forward added, showing that he has been keeping tabs on his beloved team.
Pogoy added that Jose’s will rubbed off on his teammates, helping create beautiful FEU basketball.
“Grabe ang ganda tignan ng laro nila. Ayaw nilang magpatalo ngayon. Yung puso maglaro andu’n. Kahit lamang na ‘yung kalaban, ayaw pa rin magpatalo,” the TNT neophyte remarked.
However, all of their hard work could go to waste if they let their guards down on Wednesday. And for Tolomia, it all starts on the defensive end.
“Defense pa rin. Nakita naman natin kung paano nagdepensahan ‘yung dalawang teams ngayon. May time pa nga na parehas silang hindi maka-score,” the Rain or Shine guard shared. “Kaya sa tingin ko, kung sino ang mas marami na magawa na defensive stops, yun ang may bentahe.”
“Nasa amin na ang momentum. Hopefully makuha namin ang ticket sa finals. Sana makuha ng mga boys ‘yun,” Belo said.
