Tolomia tows FEU over La Salle and into top spot

MANILA, Philippines — Mike Tolomia came alive in the second half to tow Far Eastern University past De La Salle, 74-70, and into solo first place in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

FEU guard Mike Tolomia is all smiles after leading the Tamaraws to a close win over De La Salle Wednesday night. MARK GIONGCO/INQUIRER.net

Tolomia scored 19 of his 22 points in the final two quarters to lead the Tamaraws, who grabbed the top spot with an 8-2 record and moved a game away from securing a Final Four seat.

“We had a lot of mistakes in the first half but despite that we were only trailing by nine points,” said the fourth-year guard Tolomia in Filipino. “We were tentative.”

“I don’t know why [we’re tentative] but maybe because we’re playing a perceived finalist,” said FEU head coach Nash Racela. “We told them ‘you cannot be tentative especially playing against a very strong team in La Salle.’ In the third quarter, FEU just played their game. We were back into our attack mode.”

The Tamaraws got the message and it all started with Tolomia, who shot 7-of-13 from the field after going just 1-of-5 in the first half.

Part of Tolomia’s output was a go-ahead basket, 54-52, early in the fourth quarter as the Tamaraws never trailed again and an inside incursion coming off his own miss at the free throw line that sealed the game with only 7.3 seconds left.

Not bad for someone who’s still not in his best condition.

“Going into this game we weren’t really sure about Mike because he was in the hospital right after our game last Saturday…,” said Racela. “We just saw each other yesterday (Tuesday) so I don’t know what to expect coming into the game but good thing he performed again.”

“I’m still taking medication for my tonsillitis,” Tolomia, who also had five rebounds and three assists in a team-high 32 minutes.

While Tolomia shone for FEU, Jeron Teng carried La Salle on his broad shoulders.

The Green Archers, whose seven-game winning streak was snapped to drop into a three-way tie with Ateneo and National University in second at 7-3, rode on Teng and almost came away with a win.

Teng scored a game-high 28 points, including a contested drive that pulled La Salle to within one, 70-71, with 8.3 ticks left after trailing 61-69, and went with eight rebounds and four assists.

Nortbert Torres added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the defending champion Archers, who blew a 12-point lead.

Racela, part of Gilas Pilipinas’ coaching staff, will fly to Spain for the World Cup and will miss FEU’s next two games against University of the Philippines on Saturday and Adamson on September 3.

But with the way the Tamaraws have been playing as of late, Racela, who will be back in Manila just time for their game against University of the East on September 7, knows he briefly leaves the team in good hands.

“Our relationship with the team is based on trust and right now I think we’ve developed that big trust for each other that even if one won’t be around we’ll be able to fill the void,” Racela said.

“We’ll just continue to play coach’s system. And we’ll be alright the next two games,” Tolomia said.