One team’s heaven, another team’s hell

MANILA, Philippines—RR Garcia’s near perfect fourth-quarter game allowed Far Eastern University to keep its perfect record Saturday.   With the gutsy Garcia coming through on both ends, the Tamaraws scraped past the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 65-57, to complete a seven-game sweep of the first round in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.   National University earlier pulled off this season’s biggest comeback as the Bulldogs rallied from 22 points down in the second half to stun the University of the Philippines Maroons, 70-66.   The Bulldogs moved up into a tie the Tigers at 3-4 even as  the Maroons, some of whom wept after the heartbreaking loss, finished the first round winless in seven games.    “I really can’t ask anything more from RR,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio of his top guard, who buried a game-high 22 points on top of four rebounds and three steals.     “As his coach, I’m very confident when he’s on court. He can carry the team. Buo ang loob (He’s undaunted).”   Garcia nailed a triple at the start of the fourth quarter, then swiped the ball on the next play before dishing an assist to JR Cawaling to spark  the Tamaraws’ decisive 10-0 run from a 45-45 tie.   Playing only his second year with the Tamaraws, Garcia capped the decisive rally with a three-point play after another Cawaling basket.   “We were playing relaxed defense in the first half and we couldn’t execute offensively,” said Garcia, a former RP Youth Team member. “Good thing we made up for it in the second half.”   Aldrech Ramos posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds and Cameroonian Pipo Noundou added 12 points, including six straight that kept the Tamaraws on top, 61-51, heading into the final two minutes.   The Tamaraws matched the 7-0 start of the 2005 champion team anchored on Arwind Santos, Denok Miranda and RJ Rizada, who all watched behind the FEU bench.   “We contained their perimeter players down the stretch. Our defense did it for us,” said Capacio after the Tamaraws rallied from an 11-point deficit, 14-25, in the first half.   Kokoy Hermosisima knocked in a clutch triple with 48.7 seconds remaining to lift the Bulldogs ahead for the first time, 68-66, since trailing by as many as 21-43 early in the third quarter.   “When I received the ball, I knew that I could make the shot. I was very confident,” said Hermosisima, who led the Bulldogs with 13 points, four rebounds and four assists.    Joseph Terso’s two free throws capped the  improbable comeback with 14.8 seconds left as the Bulldogs held the  Maroons scoreless in the final three minutes.   Terso finished with 12 points, the same output as Emmanuel Mbe, who fueled the big third-quarter run that pushed the Bulldogs within 52-55.   “I reminded them about their commitment at halftime,” said coach Eric Gonzales. “If you’re still in that commitment, I told them this is the right time to show it. Good thing the guys responded. I didn’t do any X and Os.”   “Nobody stepped up,” said acting coach Boyet Fernandez, the champion PBA mentor who took over when coach Aboy Castro filed a leave of absence after two games.   Fernandez cited the absence of skipper Woody Co, who fouled out with still 8:53 minutes left in the third quarter.   “We were ahead, but we lost Woody and nobody stepped up to be the leader of the team,” said Fernandez. “But then, credit to my guys. Everybody thought we’re out right now, but they showed we can still compete. Probably it will be a learning experience.”   The Maroons built a 41-21 halftime lead behind Martin Reyes and were up at 43-21 when Co fouled out. Photo by Jan Dizon   The scores: First Game  NU 70—Hermosisima 13, Mbe 12, Terso 12, Baloran 9, Khobuntin 6, Ponferrada 6, Eriobu 4, Malanday 3, Ludovice 2, Javillonar 2, Magat 1, Ignacio 0, Singh 0.    UP 66—Reyes 15, Padilla 11, Silungan 9, Lopez 8, Sison 6, Juruena 6, Hipolito 4, Gomez 4, Reyes 2, Co 1, Saret 0, Maniego 0. Quarters: 10-13, 21-41, 52-55, 70-66 Second Game FEU 65—Garcia 22, Ramos 12, Noundou 12, Cawaling 6, Exciminiano 4, Cervantes 3, Romeo 2, Mendoza 2, Cruz 2, Bringas 0, Sanga 0, Knuttel 0. UST 57—Camus 16, Bautista 12, Teng 11, Afuang 10, Mariano 4, Pe 2, Fortuna 2, Wong 0, Mamaril 0, Daquioag 0, Aytona 0. Quarters: 10-15, 26-30, 45-45, 65-57