UAAP Season 73 - Tams clinch #1 Spot beat Eagles / Warriors exits with win againts Maroons

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) -- The Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws clinched the top spot when they wriggled out from the clutches of defeat to turn back defending champion Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles, 74-72, on Saturday in the UAAP Season 73 men’s basketball at the Araneta Coliseum.

In a preview of what could be the season’s Finals series, the Tamaraws showed they are already ripe for the elusive crown, which they last held in 2005.

Down by 6 points with 3:25 to go, the Tamaraws shut down the Eagles with an 8-0 windup that gave them the No.1 spot heading into next week’s Final Four.

Eric Salamat scored on a three-pointer to push Ateneo ahead, 72-66, and moved them within minutes away from clinching the top spot. The Eagles’ team captain even celebrated the shot with his signature salute to a delirious Ateneo crowd, who were sensing another remarkable triumph.

But alas, the Tamaraws were too hungry and determined to maintain their hold on the No. 1 spot.

Reil Cervantes barreled his way to the basket to cut the deficit to just four, 68-72. Then rookie Terrence Romeo converted a failed play by Ateneo into a fade away jumper to inch closer, 70-72.

Ateneo’s uncharacteristic meltdown continued in the next play as Ryan Buenafe lost the ball to the sidelines, setting the stage for another RR Garcia heroic.

With the game on the line and his MVP bid hanging in the balance, Garcia circled to the top of the key and triggered a clutch trey in the final 42.6 seconds. It was what pierced Ateneo’s heart.
Needing to win by 4 points, the Eagles made one last attempt at sending the game into overtime after Reil Cervantes split his charities in the last 20.1 seconds.

RR Garcia

Emman Monfort’s shot, however, went too high off the glass and rimmed out as the buzzer sounded. Ateneo coach Norman Black, who was incensed by what he felt were non-calls, including the final play, went after the referees to plea his case.
“Ilang beses na kaming sinave ni RR [Garcia]. It’s payback time naman. Ang instruction ko sa kanila in the final three minutes when we’re down by six, ay kunin natin ‘tong panalong ito para sa kaniya. Good thing his teammates delivered,” FEU coach Glenn Capacio said afterwards.
Garcia, who was locked in a tight battle against National University’s Cameroonian import Emmanuel Mbe for the coveted MVP award, felt the pressure early as he picked up 3 fouls in the first half alone.
Garcia, who was the focus of Ateneo’s defense, finished with only 8 points on just 3-of-9 shooting that ended his streak of scoring in double figures this season.
But the combo guard atoned for what he termed as “tight” performance with the game’s biggest basket, the clutch three-pointer – his second out of four attempts from downtown.
“Medyo naramdaman ko ang pressure sa simula kasi nasa akin ang focus ng depensa nila [Ateneo]. Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga teammates ko kasi nag-step up talaga sila,” said Garcia.
The league MVP will be known on Monday.
The win gave the twice-to-beat armed Tamaraws with a 12-2 record and will play No. 4 seed De La Salle Green Archers on Thursday while Ateneo, which also has the twice-to-beat advantage, will face Adamson Falcons on Saturday.
“Natutuwa ako dahil ngayon lang ulit nag-no.1 ang FEU. Ang huli pa ay noong 2005 pa with the same 12-2 record. Hopefully, same result din,” said Capacio, referring to the time the Tamaraws was still led by now PBA star Arwind Santos.
FEU, who played without skipper Jens Knuttel and Carl Cruz due to sore eyes, also got a huge lift from leading Rookie of the Year contender Terrence Romeo. The second stringer guard scored 15 points and hauled down 10 rebounds.
The Scores:
FEU 74 – Romeo 15, Ramos 15, Cervantes 14, Sanga 11, Garcia 8, Bringas 6, Cawaling 4, Noundou 1, Mendoza 0, Exciminiano 0.
ADMU 72 – Buenafe 14, Salva 13, Salamat 12, Chua 11, Long 8, Monfort 6, Tiongson 5, Golla 2, Escueta 1, Dela Cruz 0, Austria 0.
Quarters: 16-17, 32-33, 54-50, 74-72.




MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – It came too late but nevertheless, the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors ended their worst season since 2001 with their heads unbowed.
With James Martinez all pumped up in his farewell game in the UAAP, the Warriors marooned the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 67-61, on Saturday to finish with a 6-8 card, just two games short of barging into the Final Four.

James Martinez

Martinez, who missed last season’s trip to the Finals with an ACL injury, left the league with a performance that he will probably bring to the pro ranks next year.
Martinez went against the Maroons almost 1-on-5 in the second canto when the sweet shooting guard scattered 11 of his team-high 17 points in dealing UP its second 0-14 season.
As Martinez was busy puncturing the hoops from afar, the Maroons went to their graduating center Magi Sison inside but to no avail.
Sison, who also wishes to join Martinez in the PBA next year, likewise poured it all. The big man from Pangasinan tried to answer Martinez with 7 of his career-high 21 points in that second quarter duel but it was clear that Sison was on the short end of the stick.
Despite Sison’s career game (17 rebounds and 4 blocks), the Warriors played with the confidence of a playoff team and held on to the victory.
“How I wish itong second round ay first round but the wins came a little bit too late. ‘Yung pride na lang namin ang nagdala sa amin, siyempre ayaw ko rin ma-ridicule,” said UE coach Lawrence
Chongson, whose return next season is under a cloud of uncertainty.
Raffy Reyes, who also played his last UAAP game, backed up Martinez with 11 points and 4 rebounds. Sophomore Ken Acibar, groomed to be the Warriors’ future leader, also chipped in 11 points and hauled down 8 boards and had 2 blocks.
“Alam naman ng lahat na first round talaga kami nagkulang. ‘Yung sinasabi nga ni coach (Lawrence) ay hindi naman yung ibang teams ang kalaban naming kundi sarili namin. Hindi pa fully healed ang injury (fractured right foot) ko tapos ang daming rookies, late na nila nalaman kung ano talaga role nila sa team,” said Paul Lee, who vowed that he would play out his remaining year of eligibility next season.
Lee, who took a back seat this season with FEU Tamaraw RR Garcia’s emergence, filled up the stat sheets. The enigmatic guard collected 8 points, 8 boards, 9 assists and 3 steals, showing a glimpse of how dominant he could be when 100% healthy.
“Magco-concentrate muna ako this off-season sa conditioning at strengthening ng paa ko. Babalik ang UE next season,” Lee promised.
The Scores:
UE 67 – Martinez 17, Acibar 11, Rosopa 9, Lee 8, Enguio 5, Santos 2, Zamar 2, Tagarda 2, Hernandez 0, Casajeros 0, Sumido 0, Noble 0, Duran 0.
UP 61 – Sison 21, Padilla 11, Silungan 9, Co 9, Saret 4, Maniego 4, Mikee Reyes 3, Pascual 0, Martin Reyes 0, Dionisio 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0.
Quarters: 21-14, 36-29, 53-38, 67-61.