Tams take on rising Eagles
AIMING to sustain its resurgent form, Far Eastern University shoots for at least a playoff for a Final Four berth in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament today.
The Tamaraws, pumped up by a thrilling double overtime triumph, hope to turn to their dependable supporting cast anew against the streaking Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 2 p.m. match at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“That’s what this team is about, we have guys willing to step up,” said FEU coach Nash Racela.
University of Santo Tomas, meanwhile, tries to snap out of a losing spell versus Adamson in the second game at 4 p.m.
Last Sunday, top MVP contender Terrence Romeo exploded for 30 points to power the Tamaraws to a pulsating double overtime win, 98-94, over University of the East.
And despite the absence of star guard RR Garcia, who served a one-game suspension, the Tamaraws arrested a two-game skid with Gryann Mendoza and Mike Tolomia coming through the clutch.
“That’s something we’re learning, playing through adversity,” said Racela as the Tamaraws go for a ninth win with Garcia back at the helm.
But the defending champion Eagles aim to stretch their unbeaten run to five to fan their own semifinal bid.
“We need to put in the minds of our players that we still have a chance and we can do this,” Ateneo coach Bo Perasol said of his Eagles, who climbed to a share of fourth with the Warriors at 5-4.
The Tigers, though, face bigger concerns as they crashed to sixth place at 4-5 after absorbing a fourth loss in their last five games.
“If we lose another one, we’ll be depending on other teams’ [results] to make it to the top four,” said UST gunner Jeric Teng, who dismissed his latest injury as just a leg spasm and expects to see action.
Teng hurt his leg and sat out the entire second half of the Tigers’ loss to National University, 75-61, last Saturday.
Meanwhile, commissioner Chito Loyzaga suspended three players for unsportsmanlike conduct—UE’s Charles Mammie (two games) and Lord Casajeros (one game) and La Salle’s Thomas Torres (one game).
