FEU pushes shorthanded UST to brink of elimination

FILE – FEU’s Arvin Tolentino shoots against two UST defenders during their game in the first round of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far Eastern University showed no remorse in handing depleted University of Santo Tomas its ninth straight loss with a merciless 96-70 beating in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Tamarws improved to 5-4, stopping its two-game skid, to take a temporary hold of the fourth spot pending the result of the game between University of the Philippines and De La Salle.

The Growling Tigers, who are one of the most successful collegiate basketball programs in the country with 18 UAAP titles, dropped to 0-8 and is now one loss away from getting eliminated from the Final Four race.

FEU practically ended the match as early as the first half taking a 26-point lead, 53-27, against a UST side that played without forward Jordan Sta. Ana and center Steve Akomo.

Axel Iñigo then capped off the Tamaraws’ 13-3 run at the start of the third quarter that gave FEU a 66-30 lead at the 7:45 mark.

FEU head coach Olsen Racela praised his team’s eagerness to distribute the ball and look for the open man as the Tamaraws dished out 27 assists, more than double of UST’s 12.

The Tamaraws also shot 52 percent from the field and converted 11 of their 26 three-point attempts.

“The team shot the ball well today, and more than that I like our unselfishness as they looked for each other,” said Racela in Filipino. “It’s a good win for us and it’s just unfortunate that UST played without its top two players.”

Akomo, who’s down with the flu, averages a double-double for UST with 10.4 points and 13.4 rebounds with 2.5 blocks per outing while Sta. Ana, who injured his shoulder in practice, puts up 13.9 points and 4.4 assists per game.

Ken Tuffin scored 14 points off the bench to lead FEU while Arvin Tolentino added 13 points.

Wendell De Guzman led the Growling Tigers with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists while Jeepy Faundo also had his double-double of 17 points and 13 boards.