Terrence Romeo. Photo by Junnel Maranan/ICM
MANILA, Philippines — With tremendous effort from both sides, Far Eastern University had the last say and survived University of the East 98-94 in double overtime Sunday in the UAAP season 79 men’s basketball tournament.
The Tamaraws, which blew a 17-point lead in regulation then had to play catch up mostly in the extra 10 minutes, arrested a two-game slide and protected their hold of the top spot with an 8-2 record.
Terrence Romeo, who struggled in the last two games, finished with 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, and had a massive triple three with 2:07 left in second OT which gave the Tamaraws a 95-91 breather.
But that spread was sparked by a triple from Gryann Mendoza 22 seconds earlier to pull FEU within one. It was another timely trey from the forward, who earlier in the first OT foiled an inbound play by UE then uncorked a triple which set up Mike Tolomia’s heroics.
Tolomia, who fouled Roi Sumang twice from beyond the arch in the act of shooting in the fourth period, made amends by drilling a crucial triple with 3.1 seconds left in first OT which tied the game anew at 85.
Those triples fueled the Tamaraws, who were without former MVP RR Garcia, all game, especially when they needed it most.
Mendoza and Tolomia added 15 and 13 markers, respectively for the Tamaraws and also combined for nine of their 22 assists.
Anthony Hargrove also had 12 points including last three FEU points.
The Warriors, meanwhile, saw their four-game winning streak snapped for a 5-4 card after missing on several attempts to put the Tamaraws away in the OT.
UE lost a seven point lead late in the first OT, then a winded Roi Sumang just made one of his two freethrows with 11.3 seconds left which the paved way for the Tamaraws to send the game into another five minutes.
Sumang had 25 points on 6-of-19 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Ralf Olivares, whose jumper tied the game 70 at the end of regulation, added 21 points.
Charles Mammie’s monster effort with 17 points and 27 rebounds, a new season best, was put to waste as the Red Warriors dropped to 5-4.