FEU catches a break, halts telling skid
ERSTWHILE skidding Far Eastern University Tamaraws got a much-needed break on Sunday, beating the University of the East Red Warriors, 80-61, at the Ynares center in Antipolo City to infuse life back to their playoff hopes.
Losers of their previous four matches that saw them lose much ground in the race to the Final Four, the Tamaraws got back on the winning track after going on a fast start against the Warriors and just maintaining control the rest of the way on the strength of hot shooting from three-point land.
The win improved FEU to 6-6 in the standings, joint fourth place with the idle University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, with two games left in the elimination round.
UE (1-11), meanwhile, slumped to its seventh straight defeat and continued its struggles in the ongoing season.
FEU got it going in the opening quarter as Barkley Ebona, Jasper Parker and Kenneth Tuffin towed the Tamaraws to a 12-3 lead midway into the frame.
Guard Philip Manalang tried to pull the Warriors back, coming to within five points, 14-9, in the next minute.
The Tamaraws would hang tough, answering with a 7-4 run the rest of the way to stay on top, 21-13, after the first 10 minutes of the contest.
FEU continued cascading on UE to start the second period, opening things with a 13-0 blast to extend it advantage to 34-13 at the 5:10 mark as Tolentino waxed hot from beyond the arc.
After struggling early on, league scoring leader Alvin Pasaol of UE managed to find his mark.
He, however, could only push the Warriors to within 15 points, 41-26, by the halftime break.
The Warriors came out aggressive to start the third quarter, cutting their deficit to 11 points, 43-32, at the 7:49 mark.
FEU was quick to douse cold water on the UE rally, going on an 11-3 run to post a 19-point cushion, 54-35, at the halfway point of the quarter.
UE though would not be deterred as it kept coming back led by Pasaol.
The Warriors cut the Tamaraws’ lead to just 10 points, 57-47, with a little over a minute to go in the frame.
When the third canto ended, FEU was still on top, 63-49.
The Tamaraws went for an early finish to start the final quarter, going on an 8-0 blitz led by Tuffin to build a 71-49 advantage with 6:55 left in the match.
From there UE could come no closer than 16 points, 71-55, with three minutes to go as FEU continued to lord it over and exact command on its way to the skidbusting victory.
Tolentino led the Tamaraws with 18 points, five rebounds and two steals with Tuffin adding 17 points.
Ebona had a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds.
As a team, FEU shot 50% from beyond the arc, going 15-of-30, that greatly helped its cause in keeping UE at bay throughout.
Pasaol, meanwhile, was once again the high point man for the Warriors with 24 points to go along with 10 boards.
After him though no other UE player scored in double digits.
The Tamaraws next play on Nov. 11 versus National University while the Warriors take on Adamson University on Nov. 10.