Bryan Sajonia enjoyed a great day from three-point country as he helped Far Eastern University strengthen its postseason bid with a 109-65 wire-to-wire victory over University of Santo Tomas in the second round of the UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Sunday afternoon, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
At the back of seven-out-of-10 shooting from outside, Sajonia produced 27 points alongside four rebounds, two assists, and one steal as FEU ended the elimination round with a 7-7 record, which eliminates Adamson (6-8) from Final Four contention.
If National University (6-7) fails to beat De La Salle University later then the Tamaraws formalize entry into the semi-finals.
“We shot really well especially in the second half,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela. “We defended better in the third quarter that’s why we pulled away. Ang mindset namin now is we need one more win to enter the Final Four.”
From a 49-35 cushion at halftime, the Tamaraws were able to extend their separation from the Growling Tigers to 109-65 in the dying seconds of the contest.
RJ Abarrientos followed Sajonia’s lead with 11 points, nine rebounds, and six assists while Royce Alforque had 10 points, seven assists, and four rebounds. L-Jay Gonzales had 10 points, six assists, and five rebounds.
Foreign center Emman Ojoula had 13 rebounds to go along with eight points.
FEU had 18 points off turnovers, 25 second-chance points, and 72 bench points. On the other hand, UST had eight turnover points, 10 second-chance points, and 24 bench points.
The Tamaraws also had 31 assists to the Growling Tigers’ 10.
“Sinabi ko sa kanila, it’s not gonna he offense but defenseang magpapanalo sa amin although pinakita nila sa akin yung shooting talaga namin sa second half,” added Racela.
Nic Cabanero led UST with 16 points. In his final outing in the UAAP, Joshua Fontanilla had 13 points and five rebounds, and three assists. Sherwin Concepcion had 10 points and five rebounds.
UST ends its campaign with a 3-11 record.
The Scores:
FEU 105 – Sajonia 27, Abarrientos 11, Alforque 10, Gonzales 10, Sleat 9, Ojoula 8, Torres 8, Bienes 8, Celzo 6, Gravera 5, Dulatre 2, Sandagon 2, Tempra 2, Li 1, Coquia 0.
UST 65 – Cabanero 16, Fontanilla 13, Concepcion 10, Manalang 6, Manaytay 5, Pangilinan 5, Canoy 4, Gomez de Liano 3, Ando 2, Garing 1, Herrera 0, Yongco 0, Gesalem 0, Mantua 0.
Quarterscores: 22-15, 49-34, 84-47, 109-65.
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