UAAP: Tams forge winner-take-all vs Falcons

Cris Tolomia of FEU tries to elude the tight defense put up by Jarelan Tampus of La Salle in their final game in the second round of the eliminations of the 74th season of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament on Sept. 11, 2011. The Tamaraws went on to beat the no. 2 seed Adamson Falcons on Thursday, September 15, to forge a winner-take-all on Sunday, September 18, for the right to meet Ateneo in the Finals. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern University banked on its explosive backcourt tandem of RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo to repulse Adamson, 59-49, Thursday to forge a winner-take-all for the last finals berth of the 74th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Romeo delivered 19 points while Garcia, last season’s MVP, came through with 16 markers for the No.3 Tamaraws.

FEU played the game to its favor with an up-and-down pace dragging Adamson out of its comfort zone.

“We played excellent defense,” commended FEU coach Bert Flores. “We limited Alvarez and Nuyles’ touches.”

The Tamaraws led by as much 21, 52-31, before the Falcons, fueled by Alex Nuyles, came as close as seven, 49-56, with three minutes remaining.

But Romeo and Garcia were just too much while on the flip side, usual hitters Lester Alvarez, Jerick Canada and Eric Camson struggled.

Romeo sank a floater to stretch FEU’s lead back to 10 that finally turned the lights out on Adamson.

Camson, Alvarez and Canada combined for just 16 points.

Rubber match will be on Sunday at 3 p.m. with the winner facing three-time champion Ateneo in the finals.

The Blue Eagles edged the UST Growling Tigers, 69-66, in the other Final Four match.