Tams complete cast
Games Today (Smart-Araneta Coliseum) 12 noon – UST vs UE 4 p.m. – La Salle vs Ateneo
Far Eastern University completed the Final Four cast in the UAAP Season 80 basketball tournament after whipping Adamson, 71-54, last night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Veterans Ino Comboy and Prince Orizu, proud members of the 2015 champion team, combined for 13 points in the final canto where the Tamaraws broke away for good.
The win more than made up for its previous losses to University of the Philippines last Oct. 28 and National University last Wednesday.
The Tamaraws closed out their eliminations campaign with an even 7-7 mark to dash the hopes of University of the Philippines which mauled the Bulldogs, 106-81, in the first game. UP finished with a 6-8 record. “Of course, we’re very happy right now. I have to hand it to the players because they never gave up and never wavered in our bid to make it to the Final Four,” said FEU’s first-year coach Olsen Racela.
Talented big man Arvin Tolentino had a team-high 14 points but it was Comboy and the 6-foot-9 Orizu who steered the Tamaraws home after the Falcons pulled within 46-52 early in the fourth.
Without gunner Jerrick Ahanmisi who was nursing an ankle sprain, playmaker Rob Manalang took charge offensively with 15 points while Cameroonian center Papi Sarr collected 10 points and seven rebounds for Adamson which dropped to 9-5 for third spot.
Earlier, top gun Paul Desiderio tied his career-best performance of 30 points to lead the Maroons.
The De Liaño brothers — Javi and Juan — joined hands with Desiderio to lead the Maroons to as many as 25 points against the Bulldogs.
Prized rookie Juan Gomez De Liano sizzled with a career-best 22 points while his older brother Javi finished with a career-high-tying 17 points, with the two even combining for 23 rebounds, six assists and two steals.
“This is a defining moment for the program. Their mindset is that they’re not willing to go to vacation,” added Perasol, who also got 12 points and 13 rebounds, 10 of them off the offensive glass, from graduating Mali center Ibrahim Ouattara.
Senegalese center Issa Gaye collected 25 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks while Bulldogs’ skippers J-Jay Alejandro and Matt Salem played their farewell UAAP match, combining for 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Desiderio 30, Gomez de Liano Ju 22, Gomez de Liano Ja 17, Manzo 14, Ouattara 12, Webb 3, Lim 2, Harris 2, Ricafort 2, Romero 2, Prado 0, Jaboneta 0.
Gaye 25, Alejandro 16, Joson 7, Salem 7, Tibayan 7, Mosqueda 4, Bartlett 4, Diputado 3, Cauilan 3, Aquino 3, Morido 2, Yu 0, Abatayo 0, Lastimosa 0, Flores 0, Rangel 0.
Quarters: 34-21, 58-45, 84-60, 106-81. Tolentino 14, Escoto 11, Orizu 10, Parker 9, Comboy 9, Inigo 7, Cani 5, Trinidad 2, Ebona 2, Bayquin 2, Dennison 0, Tuffin 0. Manalang 15, Sarr 10, Camacho 7, Lojera 4, Ochea 4, Bernardo 4, Espeleta 3, Pingoy 3, Hill 2, Ahanmisi 2, Paranada 0, Manganti 0, Zaldivar 0. Quarters: 19-17, 35-32, 52-44, 71-54.