The Far Eastern University Tamaraws have suffered their second straight defeat with just two games to go in the season.
After absorbing a 74-59 loss to Ateneo – their second loss to the Blue Eagles this season, FEU head coach Nash Racela was visibly frustrated with how the game was called. He alleged that the game officials did not allow them to gain any momentum during the first half that saw them fall by as much as 18 points.
“I don’t know. I think the referees took out our aggressiveness, while allowing the other team to be aggressive,” the champion mentor said after the game.
The Tamaraws tried to rally back in the second half, locking down the cagers from Loyola Heights. Raymar Jose, Prince Orizu, and FEU were able to cut the lead down to just nine points, 56-65, with 3:16 left. However, the fatigue of rallying back took its toll on the Tamaraws, succumbing to the Blue Eagles anew once the final buzzer sounded.
Racela, who was called for a technical foul early in the first quarter, emphasized that if the referees allowed them to play the same way during the first 20 minutes of the game, the story might have had a different ending. The Tamaraws were out-rebounded in the first half, 16 to 24, but closed the difference in the rebounding department to end the game, 48 to 51.
“Well I’d like to focus on the second half. That’s the FEU brand of basketball na we were the ones attacking on both ends. that’s something that they took away from us in the first half,” said Racela.
“We were trying to be aggressive in the first half but they didn’t allow us.”
“That’s why if you observe how Ateneo blocked out our bigs, they were really physical against them. So that’s why, that’s one point na they allowed,” he furthered.
But it is what it is for Racela and the Tamaraws as they prepare for their much-awaited tilt against the DLSU Green Archers on Saturday – their third game in six days. For him, they are no longer looking at gaining the second twice-to-beat incentive. The emphasis right now is to end the funk they are in.
“Well right now we’re not looking at scenarios. We just want to focus on the next game because it all depends on that. I think the value of the last game will depend on the next game. So doon muna kami sa susunod,” he said.
“There’s an end to a streak. We will look to end that one.”
