FEU survives CEU, advances to Filoil semis

FEU’s Roger Pogoy attempts a shot over his CEU defenders. PHOTO FROM FILOIL FLYING V PREMIER CUP’S FACEBOOK PHOTO

Far Eastern University (FEU) fended off a furious endgame run by Centro Escolar University (CEU), 73-68, to advance to the semifinals of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Premier Cup Wednesday at San Juan Arena.

Sitting comfortably on a 15-point lead, 73-58, the Tamaraws nearly botched the game when the Scorpions went on a 9-0 run with Oneal Arim hitting back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to 67-73 with 28.9 seconds remaining in the game.

Assistant coach Eric Gonzales said his team, who is playing without forward Mac Bello and without the tutelage of head coach Nash Racela, has to play with consistency.

“Challenge for us is we need to play with consistency,” Gonzales said. “We need to play with an attitude of grinding it out and being a hard worker.”

“Sometimes we’re up, sometimes we’re down.”

Still, time was on the side of the Tamaraws as their initial 15-point lead was too big of a gap to cut down in the closing seconds.

FEU committed back-to-back turnovers in the closing seconds but the Tamaraws were just waiting for the buzzer.

“What’s important is that we rebounded on the defensive side, those turnovers should never happen again.”

Raymar Jose led FEU with 16 points and seven boards while Mike Tolomia had 13 points and five assists.

Alfred Batino and Mon Abundo combined for 22 points for the ousted CEU. IDL