In a match pitting the two protagonists in the UAAP Season 77 Men’s Basketball Finals against each other, the Phoenix-Far Eastern University Accelerators hit overdrive in a 92-72 win over rivals Banco de Oro-National University Bulldogs, to punch their way to the semifinals of the 2016 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup tournament.
The opening salvo was close, as both teams were able to gain their rhythm early in the game. Off-the-bench players JJay Alejandro and Mohammad Salim paced the BDO-NU side, scoring six points apiece, but they were negated by the in-and-out combination of Mike Tolomia and Russel Escoto. The Bulldogs were able to finish the quarter strongly, with strong layups by Dave Yu and Cedric Labing-isa, to go down by just a solitary points, 22-21, entering the second frame.
After tying the game at 27-all, courtesy of a triple by Matt Salem at the 8:24 mark of the second quarter, Phoenix were able to surge ahead as they suffocated the BDO-NU offense. The Accelerators were able to limit their opponents to just 13 second quarter points, including the Salem triple. At the other end, the backcourt tandem of Al Francis Tamsi and Achie Inigo led the way, combing for 14 second quarter points. Moreover, the troika of Mac Belo, RR Pogoy, and Tolomia contributed to the huge 30 points quarter that gave the Accelerators an imposing 51-35 lead to enter the break.
“From the start yun yung pep talk namin sa team, we need to play consistent basketball. Yun talaga yung challenge sa team na ito,” Phoenix-FEU head coach Eric Gonzales said. “Tulad kanina, nagrerelax yung team na ito pagbumulusok, nagkakanya-kanya.”
It was all Phoenix-FEU in the third canto, as the lead ballooned to a game-high 21 points, 58-37. However, the guard of the Accelerators went down early in the final frame. Alfred Aroga powered his way inside during the start of the fourth quarter, while a booming triple by JJay Alejandro with 5:34 left in the game cut the lead to just ten, 76-66, with 5:34 remaining. However, free throw splits and defensive lapses led to BDO-NU’s demise. Free baskets by Tolomia and Belo extended the lead to 16 with 2:45 remaining, before the game ended with a 20-point Phoenix-FEU win, 92-72.
Eric Gonzales hopes that the team can play consistently in their upcoming series against Caida Tiles. “The greatest challenge is to get them to play consistently both defensively and offensively mas lalo na pag lamang kami,” he said.
With RR Pogoy, who scored 12 points in the game, and Reymar Jose, who added 11 markers, returning to peak form, Gonzales hopes that they can perform at the optimal level in the next stage. “Yun naman talaga yun. Pinagpahinga lang talaga namin. Nakita ko naman na nandun naman sila at wala naman nagbago sa kanila,” he closed.
Mike Tolomia led Phoenix-FEU for the game; in 27 minutes of playing time, he had 19 points on 8/13 shooting and was able to knock down three triples. Achie Inigo added 15 markers, while Mac Belo grabbed 12 boards.
On the other end, Alfred Aroga was unstoppable in the paint, shooting 8/13 from the field for 21 points. However, JJay Alejandro was the only other Bulldog to score in double-figures, with 14 points on a horrendous 4/13 shooting.
The Phoenix-FEU Accelerators will face the Caida Tile Masters in a best-of-three semifinals series starting on Tuesday. Time and venue have yet to be announced.
The Scores:
Phoenix-FEU (92) – Tolomia 19, Inigo 15, Pogoy 12, Jose 11, Daquioag 10, Ru. Escoto 10, Belo 8, Tamsi 6, Ri. Escoto 1, Andrada 0, Pascual 0.
BDO-NU (72) – Aroga 21, Alejandro 14, Salim 9, Salem 8, Yu 7, Javelona 4, Roño 3, Diputado 2, Labing-isa 2, Perez 2, Tansingco 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22, 51-35, 72-56, 92-72.
