UST Tigers aim to force rubber; Tams target title-clincher today

Game Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 3:30 p.m. — FEU vs UST (FEU leads series 1-0)

Far Eastern University is hoping history will not repeat itself. At this time last year, the Tamaraws were one game up in their best-of-three championship series against National University. But as everyone now knows, NU battled back to win the next two games to win its first championship in 60 years.

FEU plans to use the lessons of last year’s disaster to good use when it plays University of Santo Tomas at 3:30 p.m. today in Game 2, aiming for a sweep and preventing a rubber match that may open the door to a UST comeback and inflict another heartache for the Tamaraws.

“We expect them to come back strong,” said FEU Coach Nash Racela, describing UST and expressing what many already know. But he said his team is ready.

“We learned our lesson from last year's finals. We were up by one game over NU but we lost the series,” said Racela who is targeting his first title as a college coach and FEU’s 20th.

“We're hoping it's going to be a good reminder for us,” he said of that loss. He agreed that the series is not over. “We need to get another one."

If the first game against UST, which they won, 75-64, is any indication, FEU appears able to meet every challenge in its quest for its first title in 10 years.

The Growling Tigers threw everything at the Tamaraws in a frenzied final quarter, seizing the lead after trailing by as many as 14 points early only to be thwarted by FEU’s determination.

Having won the first game, the adjustment will come from the losers even as Racela assured that he will not mess with a winning formula.

"That's the luxury that we have. If it's working well for us, then we'll continue to do it," Racela said.

For the Tigers, head coach Bong dela Cruz promised that the UST community will see a different team today.

Players like Ed Daquioag and Louie Vigil struggled in Game 1, leaving the load to Karim Abdul and Kevin Ferrer who appeared worn out in the final minutes as the Tams feasted on UST’s weak defense with 14 straight points to put the game away.

Dela Cruz said they will bounce back. While he admitted that the mood was sad after the defeat, they have put the past behind them.

"Walang sisihan sa family namin. As a family we are down. Nangyayari yan so kailangan regroup lang namin ang family namin and kailangan maging happy kami," Dela Cruz said.