Tamaraws crush Maroons to stay unbeaten
Streaking Far Eastern University proved too hot to handle for struggling University of the Philippines Sunday.
Using a decisive 14-to-nothing windup in the second canto as a springboard, the Tamaraws charged to their third straight victory with a masterful 75-57 beating on the Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball championships at the MOA Arena.
Fresh from a tight 79-75 overtime victory against five-time defending champion but depleted Ateneo last Wednesday, FEU immediately jumped the gun on the UP crew then stretched a slim 27-21 lead into a whopping 20-point cushion at the break en route to the wire-to-wire victory.
Terrence Romeo came off the bench to collect a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds while backcourt buddy RR Garcia, starting for the first time this season, scattered 10 of his 15 markers in the third canto on top of seven rebounds and four assists for the Tamaraws.
But it was FEU’s sustained suffocating defense that spelled the key, stifling UP to miss its first 14 attempts and 23 overall from beyond the arc. Overall, the Maroons went an atrocious 24-of-84 (28.6 percent) from the field in dropping their third straight outing.
Raul Soyud was the lone Maroon to breach the double-figure in points with 10 while Chris Ball hauled down 19 big rebounds but ace Joseph Marata was held down to just four and missed seven of his eight shots.
The Main Man: Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, the 5-foot-11 Romeo remains deadly as ever.
After scoring seven points in the opening frame, the fourth year guard took the backseat offensively in the middle quarters then saved his best for last in the payoff canto, tallying seven in FEU’s nine unanswered points that restored order 71-50.
Honorable Mention: Towering Cameroonian native Christian Senchue is now putting his 6-foot-10 frame to good use.
Although hardly a factor offensively, Sencheu shone the brightest defensively for the Tamaraws, coming up with four of his game-high five blocks in the second half plus five rebounds.
Game Turning Point: After a Kyles Lao jumper pulled UP within 21-27, FEU stepped on the gas, uncorking 14 unanswered points in the final 3:06 to take a commanding 20-point cushion at the break.
The Tamaraws posted their biggest lead at 62-33 courtesy of a Garcia triple off a timely feed from Romeo before the Maroons uncorked 17 straight points bridging the third and fourth cantos to move within 12, capped by a JR Gallarza putback.
Romeo, however, snapped the Tamaraws’ long dry spell, firing away seven consecutive in the team’s 9-0 counterattack that completely kept the Maroons at bay, 71-50 going to the last 3:08 of play.
He Said It:
FEU coach Nash Racela: “At this point, you need to control your emotions. 3-and-oh is nothing compared to 4-and oh. We started well today compared to the first two games. That’s something we’re trying to address. We’re also guarding against complacency.”
FEU (75) - Romeo 20, Garcia 15, Tolomia 10, Cruz 8, Mendoza 6, Jose 6, Belo 6, Inigo 2, Aguilon 2, Sentcheu 0, Pogoy 0, Luz 0, Lee Yu 0, Hargrove 0, Delfinado 0.
UP (57) - Soyud 10, Ball 9, Lao 7, Amar 6, Wong 4, Marata 4, Gallarza 4, Desidero 4, Gingerich 3, Suarez 2, Pascual 2, Asilum 2, Paras 0, Ligad 0, Harris 0.
Quarterscores: 23-12, 41-21, 62-41, 75-57
