Far Eastern University ended a decade-long title drought after outlasting University of Santo Tomas, 67-62, in a gruelling Game 3 of the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball Finals Wednesday before a boisterous Mall of Asia Arena crowd.
Mac Belo played his final game for the Tamaraws and he gave everything he had to finish with 23 points and eight rebounds.
Roger Pogoy scored half of his 14 points in the final three minutes and seven seconds, including a clutch 3-pointer off a late contest by Louie Vigil that put FEU ahead for good, 61-60, with 1:27 remaining. Mike Tolomia followed Pogoy’s big basket on a drive that capped a 12-3 Tamaraws run.
“I’m really proud of my players because they represented their school well and they sacrificed,” said FEU head coach Nash Racela, who celebrated his birthday two days ago.
The Tamaraws sealed their 20th seniors basketball championship with a series of defensive stops and three free throws in the final 18.2 ticks to go with Belo hitting one and Russel Escoto sinking a pair.
FEU blew a 10-point lead in the third quarter and even trailed by six, 57-51, after a step back jumper by Ed Daquioag with 6:03 left that capped a 16-0 blast by UST bridging the last two quarters.
The Tamaraws recovered after responding with a run of their own anchored by Pogoy, who stepped up with Belo being bothered by cramps down the stretch.
FEU silenced UST’s Game 2 hero Kevin Ferrer to just six points. Ferrer, the graduating forward, only took seven shots after tying his career-high with 29 points last Saturday. Ed Daquioag paced the Tigers with 21 points but had costly turnovers down the stretch.
Belo was named Finals MVP after averaging 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1 block per game in the championship series.
WINNING TRADITION. The FEU Tamaraws celebrate after winning their 20th UAAP men’s basketball championship following a thrilling 67-62 win over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in Game 3 of the Finals Wednesday night at Mall of Asia Arena. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net