Tamaraws claim first Final Four spot with win over Adamson

It was nowhere as close as the earlier game but the Far Eastern University Tamaraws also had to endure nervous moments against the still winless Adamson University Falcons, 88-73, to remain at the top of the UAAP standings.

After allowing the Falcons to grab an early double-digit lead, the Tamaraws settled down in the second and third quarter before finally exploding for 28 points in the fourth.

At 10-2, the Tamaraws officially qualified for the Final Four and they are now the favorites to hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the knockout stage.

Alejandro Inigo led FEU with 18 points in the game. Like in their win against the UP Fighting Maroons, he also banked in a triple at a crucial moment in the game to help the Tamaraws get the win.

Don Trollano played another good game for Adamson with 20 points and six rebounds while his tag-team partner Jansen Rios added 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists but it still wasn’t enough to give the Falcons a win.

Perhaps buoyed by UP's close loss to Ateneo in the earlier game, the Falcons opened the game with an 8-0 run. Mike Tolomia opened the scoring for FEU with a three but Adamson went on a 7-0 run for a 15-3 lead.

Led by guards Tolomia and Inigo, the Tamaraws fought back to cut Adamson’s lead down to 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.

Inigo gave FEU its first taste of the lead with a triple in the second quarter. The Tamaraws were more aggressive but Adamson managed to maintain their hot shooting as they took a 44-40 lead at the half.

FEU took a 59-58 lead after two free throws from Anthony Hargove. It was the 15th lead change of the tightly contested game. The Tamaraws held on to a 62-60 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Tamaraws slowly moved away from the Falcons in the fourth. They didn’t have one big run but they grabbed key offensive rebounds control the ball game. A tip in from Tolomia gave FEU a 64-57 lead with 4:08 left in the game.

Two triples from RR Pogoy inside the two-minute mark sealed the deal for the Tamaraws who will get head coach Nash Racela back in their next game.

The Main Man: Inigo’s shooting kept the Tamaraws afloat in the first quarter. A banked fourth quarter triple from him turned the tide permanently for FEU.

Honorable Mentions: Tolomia scored 17 points added six rebounds and three assists. Belo also chipped in 17 points while adding 12 rebounds and four assists.

Game Turning Point: A triple from RR Pogoy with 1:34 left in the game gave FEU a double-digit lead, 71-61, with 1:34 left to seal their tenth win.

He Said It:

FEU assistant coach Eric Gonzales: We want to make every team a stepping stone kasi baka mamaya matisod pa tayo.

The scores

FEU 88: Inigo 18, Tolomia 17, Belo 17, Pogoy 12, Cruz 9, Hargrove 7, Jose 7, Escoto 2, Lee Yu 1, Denila 0, Tamsi 0, Delfinado 0, Ugsang 0.

Adamson 73: Trollano 20, Rios 16, Monteclaro 12, Garcia 10, Barrera 6, Polican 5, Aquino 2, Pedrosa 2, Inigo 0, Villanueva 0, Ochea 0, Baytan 0, Nalos 0.
 
Quarters: 18-19, 40-44, 62-60, 88-73.