Kirby Mongcopa delivered clutch plays on both ends as Far Eastern University outlasted Adamson University in overtime, 73-70, to keep its Final Four hopes alive in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
With the game hanging in the balance, Mongcopa came through when it mattered most. After Janrey Pasaol calmly sank two free throws to give FEU a 72-70 lead with 44 seconds left in the extra period, the first-year forward anchored the Tamaraws’ defense.
Looking to recreate his heroics from last Wednesday’s overtime win over UST, Mathew Montebon launched a potential go-ahead triple with 23 ticks remaining.
But Mongcopa was there to swat it away, securing the rebound and preserving FEU’s lead.
He was fouled by Cedrick Manzano and split his free throws, making it a three-point game. On the ensuing possession, Ray Allen Torres tried to force overtime again with a long bomb, but missed.
Mongcopa grabbed the rebound once more, then was fouled with 5.8 seconds left. He missed both freebies, but Montebon’s last-ditch three came up short, allowing FEU to finally breathe.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“I’m sorry we’re late because I kind of scolded the group, because we played great basketball for three quarters and in the fourth we showed a little bit of immaturity,” said FEU head coach Sean Chambers, relieved yet unsatisfied with his team’s composure late in the game.
“For three quarters, I thought we were phenomenal. And then the fourth, we just kind of went blank on that and had ill-advised turnovers down the stretch to put the game into overtime.”
The win snapped the Tamaraws’ two-game skid, improving their record to 4-6 — still at seventh place, but now just a game and a half behind the fourth-running UST Growling Tigers (5-4).
FEU nearly let the game slip away in regulation after leading 64-59 with less than a minute left.
Torres buried a triple before Manzano converted a layup off a pick-and-roll with Montebon to tie the game at 64-all with 8.7 seconds left.
Neil Owens had a chance to win it for FEU but missed at the buzzer, forcing overtime.
Mongcopa finished with an all-around effort of 11 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. Jorick Bautista led the Tamaraws in scoring with 12 points.
Rojan Montemayor chipped in 11, while Pasaol contributed 10 points, nine boards, and eight assists in the near triple-double outing.
“Sabi nga ni coach Sean sa locker room kanina, hindi na dapat aabot ng overtime kung nag-stay consistent lang kami at disiplinado pa. May game ulit kami next week, yung pagkukulang namin ngayon doon namin ie-execute,” said Pasaol, who went 3-of-16 from the field.
FEU’s victory also snapped Adamson’s four-game winning streak, sending the Soaring Falcons to 5-5 at solo fifth place.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Torres led Adamson with 24 points on four triples and four rebounds, while Manzano added 19 points, 12 boards, and four steals.
The Tamaraws look to sustain their momentum when they face UST next Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Meanwhile, Adamson will try to bounce back on Saturday against National University at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Scores:
FEU (73) – Bautista 12, Mongcopa 11, Montemayor 11, Pasaol 10, Konateh 7, Felipe 6, Ona 6, Daa 4, Owens 3, Nakai 3, Jones 0, Macapagal 0, Bagunu 0.
AdU (70) – Torres 24, Manzano 19, Medina 8, Erolon 8, Montebon 7, Perez 2, Ojarikre 2, A. Ronzone 0, Anabo 0, Barcelona 0, Tumaneng 0, C. Ronzone 0, Demisana 0, Fransman 0, Jaymalin 0.
Quarterscores: 13-11, 31-24, 49-42, 64-64, 73-70
