Far Eastern University watched as its comfortable cushion slowly vanished before putting together a last scrape for survival in the end.
It was the kind of breakdown that the Tamaraws will urgently address moving forward after ending the first round of the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament on a high note.
“There are things that we need to improve on,” said FEU coach Nash Racela, following the Tamaraws’ 78-75 win over the National U Bulldogs at Mall of Asia Arena yesterday to cement solo second at the end of the first round.
“We need more mental toughness. It’s always in our minds, but it’s a long process.”
The defending champion Tamaraws had the Bulldogs against the ropes after erecting a 13-point lead. Riding the momentum of a rally in the decisive stretch of the match, NU came close to pulling off a reversal as J-Jay Alejandro shone on the offensive end.
Finding gaps in the Tamaraws’ defense, Alejandro scored 17 of his career-high 31 points in the fourth period to spearhead the NU fightback that saw the Bulldogs tie the game at 71.
But FEU’s Ron Dennison and Richard Escoto responded with back-to-back baskets to hand FEU a 75-71 cushion going into the final 1:06.
Hurting the Bulldogs’ rally was Alfred Aroga’s two traveling violations in the final two minutes. Aroga also bungled back-to-back gimmes that could have changed the outcome.
Monbert Arong led the Tamaraws with 20 points but the collective efforts of Dennison, Escoto and Wendelino Comboy pushed them to a safe 5-2 record behind La Salle’s dominant 7-0 run.
“We’re now within target. But there are seven more games and for now it doesn’t really mean anything,” said Racela. “The win just puts us in a good position.”
Papi Sarr had 16 points and led four other Adamson Falcons in double figures to redeem themselves with an assertive 79-52 beating of the University of Santo Tomas Tigers. The Falcons tied the Bulldogs and the Ateneo Blue Eagles at 4-3.