NU’s Bobby Ray Parks tries to shake off FEU’s Chris Exciminiano as he holds on to the ball during their match Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. August dela Cruz/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern University had to hold its breath as it stared at National University’s last heave.
The Tamaraws outlasted the Bulldogs, 84-82, in a nerve-wracking double overtime clash after chipping away an 18-point deficit Saturday in the 74th UAAP men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
A split from the stripe by seasoned forward Aldrech Ramos with 11.7 seconds remaining provided the cushion for FEU – but it wouldn’t be enough had NU’s Joseph Terso knocked down that potential game-winning triple.
Two Tamaraws quickly collared the rebound and held on to the ball as time expired and FEU survived with its seventh victory and comfortable position in third.
The hardworking Ramos, along with the struggling RR Garcia, carried the Tamaraws anew and gave them a better angle to grab a twice-to-beat incentive with still three games left.
Garcia nailed a game-tying triple, his first and only of the game after eight attempts, with 2:32 in the second overtime and followed it up with a quick two which buoyed FEU in the last two minutes.
“We have no choice [but to play extended minutes every time] because we’re the ones left,“ said the fagged-out Ramos, who banged in 19 points in 42 minutes.
But the reigning MVP though, scoring just 10 points in 43 minutes, had to battle through a dry spell all night – even missing a tough short stab at the buzzer which could have win it for FEU at the first overtime.
It wasn’t just Garcia who couldn’t find his shots, as FEU allowed the Bulldogs to streak to an 18-point lead in the third quarter built on a crippling 16-3 run – with NU’s one-two-punch combining for 14 points in that run.
“We really had a tough time against them,” said head coach Bert Flores.
The Tamaraws then leaned on their experience, compared to the young guns of NU, and knotted the match with 6:56 left in the fourth quarter on back-to-back triples by Ramos, who was a part of the Smart Gilas developmental pool.
But Parks and NU the squad never relented untik the end of regulation, and still even forged second OT as it relied on steady free throw shooting by the phenomenal rookie down the stretch.
|“Ray Parks’ talent is just tremendous – good for an NCAA Division 1 [US League],” Flores said.
Parks, who shone anew even on a losing cause with 32 points – his third 30+ outing this season, though, missed one of the two most crucial charities for NU in the last OT which swung the ball back to FEU.
With the heartbreaking loss, the Bulldogs sunk to sixth place behind La Salle (4-6) and University Santo Tomas (5-5) but their chances of a final four stint remains alive.