Mike Tolomia comes up large for FEU; Ateneo ponders 0-2 start
“I always tell Mike (Tolomia) that you'll have your time” said a relieved Nash Racela in the post game press conference, minutes after his Tamaraw squad edged Ateneo 79-75 in overtime at the Mall Of Asia Arena last Wednesday.
“Too often he tries too hard to prove himself” explained Racela. “I tell him you're surrounded by two good guys (Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia.) Be patient. Be available.”
“I like that he's always ready. Even in the last game (against UE), he hit big shots. He scored like, ten points in that game, right?”
Against Ateneo the combo guard did better, serving up 16 points on seven of thirteen shooting, with two treys. His contributions helped offset a mixed night for Romeo, who topscored for the Morayta crew with 21 points but was horrid from three point range (one for nine) and hardly better from everywhere else (three for nine from two-point areas.) Fortunately for Romeo, only one of his thirteen trips to the free throw line didn't swish.
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Three big plays in the second half gave us an idea of how important Tolomia was to this critical win.
With minutes to go in the 3rd Tolomia hung in the air and evaded Ryan Buenafe's outstretched arm to poke in an absurd one-handed improvised basket that drew oohs and ahhs from the crowd.
Then with the third quarter clock winding down Tolomia faked off Von Pessumal, stepped back for an extra yard of breathing room, and uncorked a perfect three-pointer at the buzzer that gave FEU a precious 53-44 cushion to begin the fourth quarter.
Moments leader Tolomia grabbed a rebound and executed a textbook putback to stretch the lead to nine, 55-44 in the start of the fourth quarter.
At that point Ateneo looked like toast. Which of course, they weren't.
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Ryan Buenafe displayed yet another mythical performance with two three pointers and two free throws in the fourth to allow Ateneo to claw back. Chris Newsome's clutch tying free throws with only seconds remaining sent the game to an additional five minutes.
Buenafe's line: 35 minutes, 9-22 FG shooting, including five of twelve from beyond the arc. The big fella drained all six of his free throws, and hauled in fifteen rebounds, thirteen from the defensive boards.
Little has changed from when he burst into the UAAP years ago. That swashbuckler demeanor, the ever-so-slightly-visible paunch dribbling over the waist; the almost lazy release on his perimeter shots. The eye for the important basket.
Buenafe will be key if Ateneo entertains dreams of a sixth title in a row, within sight of Baby Dalupan and UE's mark.
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But Wednesday belonged to the Tams. FEU sprinted out of the blocks in OT with another huge Tolomia triple and a Garcia layup. The stingy Tams defense held Ateneo to zero field goals in the extension until the last minute. More late game heroics from the Blue Eagles were not enough as FEU hung on for the win.
There are different ways of looking at this game for Ateneo. They showed enormous reserves of character to come back in the fourth quarter and overtime, especially without their talisman.
Kiefer Ravena was in street clothes, his right foot encased in a gigantic gray plastic boot. His participation was limited to exhorting his team mates to curb their enthusiasm from the bench lest they cautioned for improper bench decorum.
It can be argued that sending Far Eastern to OT without their star is an achievement in itself for Ateneo.
The kids were alright. Chris Newsome pitched in seventeen points and seven rebounds in an energetic, 38-minute performance. Von Pessumal played 29 minutes and chipped in six points. He has bulked up significantly since his rookie year and made two out of three from three point range.
But on the flip side, Ateneo were outhustled on the defensive end. FEU had seven steals against just one for the Eagles, and out-blocked the champs 7-3. The Tams were credited with fifteen points off turnovers against none for Ateneo.
Ateneo was not at all efficient offensively either, shooting 29% from the field. (FEU only shot 30%.)
And most importantly, ADMU is 0-2. La Salle looms on Sunday. Will Kiefer be ready? Can Ateneo actually go 0-3 this season?
Things look much rosier for FEU, who have vanquished their bogey opponent. Their locker room is the next room from the press room, and all the media folks could hear their untrammeled joy as they celebrated a win that reinstates their position as a legit title contender.
Tolomia can take much of the credit. But if you listen to Racela, it isn't just about those big baskets.
“I'm not concerned about his offense” said the first-year Tamaraw coach. “I told him if you want to play, you have to be a decent defender. Mabuti naman tinatrabaho niya ang depensa niya. Now he's a decent defender. His offense is a bonus.”
On Wednesday, what a big bonus it was.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333
