FEU nips DLSU in thriller
For last berth of the UAAP Final Four
THE Final Four cast of University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 is now complete after the Far Eastern University Tamaraws pulled the victory from the De La Salle Green Archers, 7170, in their one-game playoff on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Arvin Tolentino towed his team to the victory with a dagger three-pointer in the dying seconds to keep FEU’s season alive while sending La Salle to vacation-ville.
FEU took early control of the match, racing to an 11-8 advantage in the first five minutes on the strength of hot shooting from beyond the arc.
But La Salle would charge back for much of the remainder of the opening quarter, temporarily seizing the lead, 21-19, with 18 seconds left.
The Tamaraws had the last laugh in the first canto though, reclaiming the lead, 22-21, with a triple from Axel Inigo with a second to go.
The two teams continued to slug it out to start the second quarter, fighting to a 29-27 count for La Salle at the 6:21 mark.
La Salle extended its lead to 33-29 two minutes later, behind Andrei Caracut and Justine Baltazar, before settling for a twopoint cushion, 38-36, at halftime.
Pounding on the inside, the Tamaraws took command early in the third period.
They overtook the Archers, 45-43, with 4:57 remaining in the quarter.
La Salle tried to seize control of the game but Barkley Eboña and the rest of the Tamaraws did not allow it to.
FEU entered the final frame holding a 54-51 advantage.
With the outcome of the match still to be determined, the two squads jockeyed hard at the start of the fourth.
The Tamaraws continued to hold sway, 59-56, after three minutes.
La Salle, however, kept the pressure on FEU after, taking the lead, 62-60, at the 4:30 mark following two free throws from Santi Santillan.
Eboña then levelled the count at 62-all 30 seconds later with a deuce in the paint.
The Archers entered the last two minutes holding a two-point lead, 66-64, before Santillan extended it to four, 68-64, with 1:27 left.
FEU sued for time after to craft a play, which bore fruit from the charity stripe care of Jasper Parker to make it a two-point game, 68-66, with 1:22 to go.
La Salle though responded with Aljun Melecio connecting off a drive to create added distance, 70-66, with a minute remaining.
Kenneth Tuffin drained a long two to push FEU to within two, 70-68, at the 39-second mark.
The Archers had a chance to bury the Tamaraws some more but the jumper of Joaqui Manuel failed to hit the mark, leaving the door open for FEU.
The Tamaraws then brought the ball down, eventually finding Tolentino who calmly drained a triple and give his team the lead, 71-70, with three seconds left.
La Salle tried to salvage the win but the heave of Santillan as time expired did not go in which handed the victory to FEU.
Tolentino top-scored for the Tamaraws with 15 markers with Ebona finishing with a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Tuffin and Richard Escoto also were in double digits in scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Santillan, meanwhile, led La Salle with 20 points.
Unfortunately, after him no other Archer scored beyond nine points.
“I like how my players responded all season long. They just not give up. I guess it is just fitting that we enter the Final Four this way,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela following their victory.
The Tamaraws now make a short turnaround as they face the defending champions and top seeds Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Final Four on Sunday, Nov. 25, with a twice-to-win handicap.
For La Salle, the defeat saw it end the season on a whimper as it slumped to a third straight defeat.