Tams nip Archers in 2 OTs; UST up

Far Eastern University needed two extra periods to keep its winning streak going.

The Tamaraws scraped past the young La Salle Green Archers in double overtime, 84-80, yesterday to stretch their unbeaten run to five games in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tamaraws held the Archers to just two field goals in the second extension to complete their comeback from as many as 10 points down in regulation.

RR Garcia delivered in key stretches for the Tamaraws to finish with a game-high 18 points, including a layup off a steal from La Salle’s Simon Atkins with 9.2 seconds left to tie the game, 68-68, and forge the first overtime.

La Salle sophomore Joel Tolentino dragged the game to a second overtime at 74-74 with a free throw with 18.5 seconds remaining.

University of Santo Tomas made it a double thriller as the Tigers slipped past the National U Bulldogs, 59-58, in the second game.

Carmelo Afuang buried a triple for a 59-53 lead with 2:19 minutes left, and the Tigers held on to match the Archers’ 3-2 record.

Paul Sanga shot all his four points in the second extra period to lift the league-leading Tamaraws to a 78-74 lead, before Pipo Noundou completed a three-point play to make it 81-76, time down to 1:40.

Garcia, whose final basket padded FEU’s lead to 83-76, also finished with four rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

Carl Bryan Cruz, a transferee from Metro Manila College, had a breakout game of 16 points after playing just a combined three minutes in two FEU games.

“That’s the story of our team, we just don’t rely on one player,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio. “La Salle’s trademark pressure defense made it hard for us, we couldn’t execute.”

“It could have gone either way, we just couldn’t capitalize on our breaks toward the end,” said coach Dindo Pumaren of his Archers, who stunned back-to-back champion Ateneo, 66-63, last Saturday.

The Archers led 47-37 and stayed on top at 68-61 with three minutes left before the Tamaraws closed out the fourth quarter with a 7-0 spurt capped by Garcia’s game-tying layup.

“A win is a win,” said Tigers coach Pido Jarencio. “We had a bad shooting day, but we made up for it by playing good defense”

The Tigers, sizzling with 16 triples per game in their last two outings, nailed five of their seven treys in the fourth quarter.

The scores:

First Game

FEU 84—Garcia 18, Cruz 16, Noundou 14, Cervantes 12, Ramos 5, Bringas 4, Sanga 4, Exciminiano 4, Cawaling 4, Romeo 3, Mendoza 0, Knuttel 0.

LA SALLE 80—Webb 17, Marata 16, Andrada 13, Villanueva 11, Tolentino 7, Atkins 5, Paredes 4, Dela Paz 4, Mendoza 3, Vosotros 0, Tampus 0, Ferdinand 0.

Quarters: 17-24, 30-38, 51-53, 68-68 (Reg.), 74-74 (1OT), 84-80 (2OT)

Second Game

UST 59—Afuang 15, Bautista 14, Camus 11, Teng 6, Fortuna 6, Pe 4, Mariano 3, Wong 0, Tinte 0, Mamaril 0, Lo 0, Daquioag 0, Aytona 0.

NU 58—Ponferrada 12, Baloran 11, Mbe 10, Terso 8, Hermosisima 6, Ludovice 4, Tungcul 3, Khobuntin 2, Javillonar 2, Ignacio 0, Eriobu 0, Singh 0, Magat 0.

Quarters: 13-10, 22-25, 38-41, 59-58