Surgin’ Tams defang Tigers
MOVE WIN SHY OF CLINCHING UAAP CROWN
Game on Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. – Awarding ceremonies 3:30 p.m. – FEU vs UST (men’s finals) (FEU leads series 1-0)
Far Eastern University operated better under gripping championship pressure, shattering University of Santo Tomas with a decisive late game burst of 14 straight points and a tough defense to take Game One, 75-64, of the UAAP men’s basketball finals before a roaring crowd in yellow and green at the MOA Arena in Pasay City yesterday.
It was actually a showdown of surges and flurries with the Tigers, trailing majority of the way, rolling back into the game with offensive thrusts late in the third and early in the fourth and the Tamaraws responding with their own rapidfire onslaught down the stretch that took the fight out of the España-based squad and decided the contest, the first finals meeting between the league’s winningest teams in 36 years.
The Tams gun for the clincher, their 20th championship, on Saturday.
The Tamaraws outplayed the Tigers with better ball movement and offensive built around their big men to seize initiative in the first half until UST, struggling with their quartercourt shooting that was so lethal in the elims to the Final Four, found its rhythm and range bridging the last two quarters.
Awesome with their offense, the Tams also proved they’re as potent defensively, choking the Tigers to only two points in the last 5:52, turning what was expected to be a tight, down-to-the-wire finish into a runaway triumph.
“I think it was our defense for 40 minutes,” said FEU coach Nash Racela, whose wards can wrap up the diadem with another victory on Saturday.
“This team has been an underrated defensive team but these boys really work hard on the defensive end. And it showed today,” he added.
The Tams held the Tigers to a 36.23 percent clip and specifically put the cuffs on UST ace Ed
Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:15 p.m. – Alaska vs NLEX 7 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Barako Bull
The TNT Tropang Texters sprang back to life in the second half, unleashing two vicious runs from a fivepoint deficit to ward off the Blackwater Elite, 109-98, and inch closer to the post-elims play in the Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
The Tropang Texters zoomed ahead, 72-61, on a 16-to-nothing romp from 56-61 down, then followed it up with a 10-2 opening attack in the fourth quarter to pull away, 88-70, before eventually notching their fourth win against two losses.
The Texters battered the Elite badly, 32-9, in a 12-minute stretch in the second half, and went on to deal Blackwater a fifth loss against a lone win.
“I just asked them (the Texters) why we couldn’t defend? And I think they did a better job defending in the second half,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico of his words during their halftime huddle.
With a poor defensive effort, the Texters yielded 50 big points and trailed by one at the half.
“They (the Elite) still finished with 98 points but that’s not indicative of the total effort of our guys. We played better defense in the second half,” said Uichico.
Defensive stops keyed decisive transition attacks by Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario, Larry Fonacier, Moala Tautuaa and Harvey Carey in the second half.
Castro top scored with 26 points while top rookies Tautuaa and Rosario combined for 33 markers and 18 boards as the Texters bounced back from a loss to the NLEX Road Warriors the last time out.
“The rookies are getting better. They’re more comfortable playing together. Hopefully, we’re able to fast track all the adjustments they need to make in pro play,” said Uichico.
“If we get to the playoffs and we will need help from our rookies. They need to be a part of the whole scheme whether in rebounding, defense and getting to know their niche in the team,” Uichico also said.
Later in the night, Greg Slaughter sustained his overpowering performance while Mark Caguioa and LA Tenorio broke out of personal slumps as Barangay Ginebra whipped Globalport, 85-70, to barge into the Top Six with a third straight win and a 4-3 overall record.
Slaughter once again piled up huge doubledouble numbers with 22 points and 21 rebounds while Caguioa and Tenorio delivered 22 and 18 markers, respectively, as they held their own against highly touted Globalport guards Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle.
“It’s a first real good one we’ve got,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone of their best game in the tourney thus far.
“That’s (the Batang Pier) a team that is going to be a beast. I’m glad we got them early and played them now,” Cone also said.
NOTES: Former Rain or Shine import Wayne Chism was a surprise PBA visitor last night, swinging by from Bangkok where his wife plays in a volleyball event..... TNT forward Ranidel de Ocampo, on the road to recovery from a back injury, will be back in weight training next week. “Light lang, but he’ll be back,” said TNT team manager Virgil Villavicencio. The scores: First Game TALK N’ TEXT 109 – Castro 26, Rosario 17, Fonacier 16, Tautuaa 16, Crey 11, Rosser 8, Williams 6, Miranda 3, Aban 2, Reyes J. 2, Seigle 2, Reyes R. 0.
BLACKWATER 98 – Erram 18, Lastimosa 18, Dela Cruz 13, Cortez 11, Reyes 9, Ballesteros 8, Cervantes 8, Sena 7, Gamalinda 6, Canada 0, Vosotros 0. Quarterscores: 24-24, 50-51, 78-68, 109-98 Second Game GINEBRA 85 – Caguioa 22, Slaughter 22, Tenorio 18, Aguilar 8, Cruz 4, Devance 4, Ellis 4, Thompson 2, Helterbrand 1, Mercado 0, Salva 0.
GLOBALPORT 70 – Washington 18, Pringle 13, Romeo 10, Yeo 8, Mamaril 5, Jensen 4, Kramer 4, Maierhofer 4, Paniamogan 2, Sumang 2, Peña 0, Semerad 0.
Quarterscores: 23-13, 36-41, 59-55, 85-70