INQUIRER Sports

W L
 Ateneo 11 1
 Far Eastern 11 2
 UE 9 4
 UST 6 6
 La Salle 5 8
 UP 3 9
 Adamson 3 9
 National 2 11

GAMES TODAY
(FilOil Flying V Arena)
2 p.m.?Adamson
vs UST
4 p.m.?UP vs Ateneo

FAR EASTERN claimed the remaining Final Four bonus while all but dooming De La Salle?s semifinal hopes with a nail-biting 71-69 overtime decision Saturday in the UAAP men?s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

RR Garcia drilled half of the Tamaraws? six points in overtime while taking over from Reil Cervantes to clinch the victory that boosted FEU?s second-running record to 11-2.

Rookie Samuel Marata, whose back-to-back triples forged the extra period at 65-all, had a chance to send the game into overtime again but missed a jumper at the buzzer.

?It was a very tough game,? said FEU coach Glenn Capacio. ?But we know how big an advantage is the twice-to-beat because you?re just one win from the Finals.?

The Tamaraws? victory relegated the University of the East to third place even after the Warriors, who had earlier hoped to boost their bid for the Final Four bonus, trampled on the National U Bulldogs, 70-58, in the first game.

The Warriors climbed to 9-4 a couple of days after claiming the third semifinal berth with the University of Santo Tomas Tigers (6-6) hoping to complete the Final Four cast with a win over the Adamson Falcons at 2 p.m. today also at the San Juan gym.

?Overall, we?re on a rebuilding stage and I?m still happy with what my boys accomplished,? said coach Franz Pumaren, whose Archers seemed sure to miss the Final Four for the first time since the league adopted the format in 1994.

At 5-8, La Salle?s only chance is through a playoff with UST for the last semifinal slot that will happen if the Archers win against the Bulldogs on Thursday and the Tigers drop their final two assignments.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles, who claimed the first twice-to-beat advantage last week, aim to avenge their lone loss against the University of the Philippines Maroons in their 4 p.m. rematch this Sunday.

Garcia finished with 18 points behind the team-high 20 of Cervantes, who buried his last 14 in the second half. Aldrech Ramos also proved a key for the Tams by posting his sixth double-double of 10 points and 19 boards, the highest number of rebounds grabbed by a player this season.

The Archers fought back from seven-points down in the last two minutes of regulation behind Joshua Webb before Marata?s two long bombs forced the extension.

Meanwhile, the La Salle Zobel Junior Archers secured the first Final Four bonus with a 12-1 record following a 121-57 demolition of the winless UP Junior Maroons.

The FEU Baby Tamaraws, who recently secured the last semifinal berth, picked up their ninth win in 13 games after thrashing the NU Bullpups, 96-56.

The scores:

First Game

UE 70?Lee 17, Zamar 11, Acuña 9, Reyes 8, Lingganay 6, Espiritu 6, Bandaying 5, Llagas 4, Ayala 4, Tagarda 0, Noble 0, Duran 0.

NU 58?Ponferrada 12, Hermosisima 12, Magat 8, Baloran 8, Tungcul 7, Terso 7, Manito 2, Mlanday 2, Singh 0, Luy 0, Donahue 0.

Quarters: 18-15, 37-27, 62-39, 70-58

Second Game

FEU 71?Cervantes 20, Garcia 18, Ramos 10, Barroca 7, Cawaling 5, Vinluan 3, Tanuan 3, Sanga 3, Knuttel 2, Manalo 0, Caluag 0.

LA SALLE 69?Bagatsing 12, Webb 11, Marata 10, Co 10, Andrada 7, Mendoza 6, Tolentino 4, Barua 4, Mangahas 3, Villanueva 2, Bringas 0, Banal 0.

Quarters: 11-15, 27-29, 44-49, 65-65 (reg), 71-69 (OT)