The Far Eastern University Tamaraws, a team that has experienced the end of a “cycle”, exceeded everyone’s expectations in its first assignment of the season against the highly-touted De La Salle University Green Archers. Surprising even its own head coach Nash Racela.
“It surprised me also. What it gave us is the belief that we can still compete this season,” Racela said about this batch of Tamaraws after an 83-78 setback against coach Aldin Ayo and the Green Archers.
“Compared to last year, we don’t have stability. Going into a game we knew that somebody will perform. This year, we have a young and inexperienced team.”
“I was really surprised today, they exceeded my expectations,” the UAAP champion coach furthered. “The fact that we were able to compete against La Salle. Going into the season, people talked a lot about their mayhem but when you look at the stats, they had 27 and we only had 17.”
“They were able to see FEU’s version of a mayhem.”
Everyone expected that La Salle, a team that is almost intact from last season, to overpower the Tamaraws, a team that lost six players that logged in heavy minutes a year ago. The Green Archers were able to gain a 16 point edge, 62-46, early in the third frame but behind workhorse Raymar Jose, the defending UAAP champions battled back, knotting the game at 74-all with 3:53 left in the game.
However, the pace of the game and playing tough defense on Cameroonian student-athlete Ben Mbala for 25 minutes took its toll on the King Tamaraw, succumbing to cramps that swung the momentum over to the Green-side.
“I think we got them in the end game. They just got some bail out free throws in the end when they called a hand check foul on Jeron Teng,” Racela remarked about the foul that was assessed on Ron Dennison with 57 ticks remaining that doubled the two-point lead La Salle was holding. “We were down two I think and they got free throws. It’s the same thing we were complaining about the start of the game. Tinatawag nila sa La Salle but they weren’t calling it for us.”
“We need to be tougher than the calls of the referees.”
Looking forward to the next 13 games of the regular season, the FEU mentor hopes his team sustains the courage it displayed against Mbala and the Green Archers the rest of the way.
“That’s what we told everybody: ‘don’t be afraid, bring it to him.'”
“The boys showed really how tough they are which I think is a good sign for us,” he closed.
