Tams signature run crushes Warriors

Those massive scoring outbursts Far Eastern University seems to drop with ease may have made the Tamaraws look scary good.

But for FEU coach Nash Racela, the huge late runs actually make him fidget.

“It’s hard because we don’t know when they’ll come,” said Racela after another torrid rally got the Tamaraws past University of the East, 92-81, that gave them the solo lead at 4-1 in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

“I also get surprised at the end of the game that it was an 18-0 run, a 20-0 run,” added Racela. “Everything starts with defense.”

National University, who got its groove back with a second-quarter turnaround, thrashed  winless Adamson, 75-54, in the second game Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“It looked easy but we had a hard time in the first half,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano. “We didn’t have the energy early in the game. It’s a good thing we stepped up in the second half.”

For the Bulldogs, their second straight triumph is enough of a confidence boost after a an alarming 0-3 start to their title defense.

While team stars Mac Belo and Mike Tolomio get a lot of things going for the Tamaraws, their reliable cast led by Raymar Jose and Roger Pogoy also help make those big comebacks happen.

Belo dropped half of his 24 points in the Tamaraws’ fourth-quarter tear, where they shot a staggering 59 percent from the field and highlighted it with an 18-0 bomb that gave them an 88-75 spread after trailing by as many as 15 points, 25-40.

“We stuck to our veterans,” noted Racela. “They were stretched, like Jose played almost the whole fourth quarter. But those are the things that we see as our advantage.”

There were surprises too in the Tamaraws’ one-sided wins. And this time, it was guard Francis Tamsi, who held UE super rookie Bonbon Batiller scoreless in the fourth quarter after erupting for 18 points in the early periods.

“We found a Batiller stopper in Francis Tamsi,” said Racela.“He was very very big. He was able to stop Batiller in the second half. It wasn’t part of the game plan, (Monbert) Arong was our [initial] defender.”

Tolomia also chipped in 15 points and dished out eight assists for the Tamaraws, while Arong added 14 markers.

Jose, the biggest revelation so far for the Tamaraws this season, posted another double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.

But no matter how unpredictable the games have played out for his predicted No. 1 team, Racela just feels glad that the Tamaraws remain on top.

“[The runs are] signs of inconsistency,” said Racela. “It’s also only now that we’re encountering that kind of defense. But it’s ok that we encounter those, and we keep on winning.”

The scores:
First Game
FEU 92—Belo 24, Tolomia 15, Arong 14, Jose 13, , Pogoy 10, Iñigo 8, Tamsi 3, Escoto Ru. 2, Orizu 2, Escoto Ri. 1, Comboy 0, Dennison 0, Ebona 0, Trinidad 0.
UE 81—Batiller 18, Javier 13, Derige 10, Varilla 9, Abanto 8, Charcos 7, De Leon 7, Palma 6, Manalang 3, Penuela 0, Yu 0.
Quarters: 21-29, 39-50, 59-71, 92-81
Second Game
NU 75—Aroga 16, Alolino 10, Tansingco 10, Celda 8, Diputado 7, Javelona 6, Yu 6, Salim 5, Abatayo 3, De Castro 2, Morido 2, Alejandro 0, Javillonar 0, Lastimosa 0, Neypes 0, Rangel 0.
ADAMSON 54—Villanueva 11, Sarr 9, Nalos 7, Ochea 6, Polican 6, Garcia 4, Escalambre 3, Margallo 3, Camacho 2, Ng 2, Bernardo 1, Fernandez 0, Tungcab 0.
Quarters: 17-19, 33-28, 54-40, 75-54