UAAP: FEU bounces back, routs UP

By: Mark Giongco - 10 years ago

FEU forward Mac Belo (left) and head coach Nash Racela speak with reporters following their win over UP Sunday. Belo tallied 12 points and nine rebounds while coming off the bench. Mark Giongco

MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University took its frustrations out on a listless University of the Philippines side for an 85-71 win in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tamaraws, coming off a sorry 67-69 loss to University of Santo Tomas exactly a week ago, used a 31-7 blast bridging the middle quarters to put the game away.

“We treated this game as a very important one especially coming off a loss. The previous loss gave us a lot of lessons and that’s what we worked on the last couple of days,” said FEU head coach Nash Racela

“And when we were able to correct those mistakes, it was a beauty.”

UP pulled to within one after FEU led by 12 but they weren’t the same in the second half especially in the third quarter where the Fighting Maroons shot just 6% from the field on one-of-16 shooting and trail by as much as 26.

“I always talk about the consistency of our team. The third quarter is really how the game should be played. Nothing is forced, just making the right decisions, finding the open guy and defending,” said Racela.

Mike Tolomia led the Tamaraws, who upped their mark to 2-1, with 18 points on an efficient seven-of-eight shooting from the field that went with four rebounds and three assists.

“I think he made his adjustment. The players are like that sometimes they struggle but you can expect them to bounce back,” Racela said of Tolomia, whose 3-pointer pushed his team’s lead to 26, 78-52, with under eight minutes left.

The Tamaraws shot 56% from the field while holding the Maroons, who suffered their fourth loss in as many games this season and their 25th straight since Season 75, to just 38% shooting.

Mark Belo flirted with a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds while Roger Pogoy and Carl Cruz had 11 points apiece for FEU, which controlled the rebounding department, 47-27.

“He (Belo) showed his true leadership,” said Racela. “Actually we changed our starting unit… Mac came off the bench he sacrificed because we tried to find the right mix.”

“Going into this game, we really wanted to give Roger confidence because we know he can really help the team.”