Tamaraws don't want repeat of last year's collapse
For the second straight season, Far Eastern University is off to an auspicious start in the UAAP men’s basketball championships but coach Nash Racela refuses to look that far ahead, repeatedly reminding his charges to keep their guard up.
After all, the Tamaraws got off to a strong 4-0 start last season, only to run out of gas in the homestretch of the eliminations, dropping their last four games in the process–including a painful knockout game for the fourth and final semifinal berth against the Green Archers of La Salle.
And because of this, Racela wants his FEU crew to avoid being overconfident.
“Isa ‘yan sa mga binabantayan namin–that they become (too) confident,” stated Racela, moments after the Tamaraws chalked up their second win in a row by scrambling past the Kiefer Ravena-less Ateneo Blue Eagles 79-75 in overtime last Wednesday.
“Of course, you want to have a certain level of confidence going to the game but you don’t want your players to relax,” he added.
Although flying under the radar heading into the season, FEU proved it remains a dangerous force, serving an immediate reality check to pre-season favorite University of the East 89-78 in the opener last Saturday.
Now, the Tamaraws currently sit on top of the eight-team field with a 2-0 mark while the short-handed Blue Eagles, the five-time defending champions, are mired at the bottom with 0-2 slate alongside the rebuilding Fighting Maroons of University of the Philippines.
ALSO READ: Archers' Perkins off to a good start
Most of the credit is given to fourth-year guard Terrence Romeo, who is averaging monstrous numbers of 22 points, nine rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.5 steals against five turnovers in 31.5 minutes of action.
More importantly, the 5-foot-10 Romeo has been showing signs of transformation from a ball hog into a pass-first guard, having dished a team-high 12 assists–mostly to backcourt partner RR Garcia–in their convincing win over the Red Warriors.
A former league MVP, Garcia has also thrived in providing instant offense off the bench for FEU, averaging 15.5 markers on top of 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and as many steals.
Also giving the needed support are wingman Mike Tolomia (12 points and five boards), American forward Anthony Hargrove (9.5 markers, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks) and forward (7.5 points, 6.5 boards and 2.5 assists) for the Tamaraws.
For Racela, who took over the coaching mantle from Bert Flores, those numbers only serve as pieces for the bigger picture he’s looking at.
“Of course, small steps are important. Meaning you get as many wins as you can, even how difficult or close it is. We will take it. What’s important to us, especially with the kind of competition we have this year, any team can beat you. Then almost all of the teams are stronger than us. Kaya tanggap lang kami ng tanggap. Kung mananalo, mas maganda para sa amin,” he said.
With a relatively light assignment against the winless Fighting Maroons on Sunday, things are looking bright for the Tamaraws but, as encouraging as they may, Racela refused to be swayed.
“Simula pa lang yan. That’s why I tweeted (last Sunday), ‘It’s not how you start but how you finish.’ It’s something that we always remind to our players,” he stressed.
