INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Pouring their emotions on court, the Far Eastern Tamaraws turned to their veterans at the clutch and slipped past the University of the East Warriors with a 71-69 squeaker in the 71st UAAP men's basketball competition Saturday at the PhilSports Arena.

Andy Barroca scored on a go-ahead basket to shatter a 66-66 deadlock and lift the Tamaraws to 68-66 with 36 seconds left, before Aldrech Ramos sank two buffer free throws off an Elmer Espiritu foul for a 70-66 lead with nine ticks remaining.

The win proved too emotional for the Tamaraws after star forward Mac Baracael got shot two days earlier by an unknown assailant just outside the FEU gym.

The Tamaraws remained at third place with a 4-1 record, while the Warriors dropped to 3-3.

From the get-go, however the Tamaraws played with much fire as if no team tragedy hung on their heads.

Baracael, still confined in a hospital, had been declared "out of danger." But the 23-year-old cager is still being monitored after a single gunshot punctured his lungs and fractured two ribs.

"Anyone could have won that game; it was our desire and heart that helped us win," said FEU coach Glenn Capacio. "Going into this game, we had no concentration in practice. We cut it because we weren't focused. It was a team effort, both in offense and defense."

The Tamaraws clearly made the unfortunate incident their rallying point with the No. 12, Baracael's jersey number, patched on their jerseys and taped on their shoes. Benedict Fernandez also had a rosary visibly tucked in his shorts.

"They gave their best for Macmac," said Capacio. "I'm touched by what the players did. Instead of me motivating them, they motivated me. The boys gave such a huge effort."

With the Tamaraws up at 70-66, Hans Thiele nailed a triple left to push the Warriors within a point, 70-69, with 2.8 seconds.

Forced to stop the game clock, the Warriors fouled Barroca, who grabbed key rebound in the dwindling seconds after missing the second of his two free throws.

Fernandez, finishing with a game-high 19 points, carried the Tamaraws early in the third quarter by drilling 10 straight points that tied the game at 43.

The Warriors had posted a double-digit edge for the first time, 43-33, following a fiery run after the break that started with two Rudy Lingganay treys.

Back-to-back triples by Paul Lee and Paul Zamar again put the Warriors ahead at 49-43, before the Tamaraws answered with a 10-2 rally punctuated by a JR Cawaling three-pointer to wrest the lead at 53-51.

The scores:

FEU 71 -- Fernandez 19, Cawaling 12, Adolfo 9, Ramos 7, Barroca 7, Cervantes 6, Sanga 5, Knuttel 4, Kave 2, Alisbo 0, Cabagnot 0.

UE 69 -- Llagas 14, Lingganay 12, Espiritu 10, Arellano 10, Zamar 7, Thiele 7, Lee 5, Noble 2, Reyes 2, Bandaying 0, Martinez 0.

Quarters: 16-15, 31-33, 53-55, 71-69