Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Overshadowed in Far Eastern University’s loss to National University on Wednesday was that the Tamaraws set the UAAP record for most 3-pointers made in a game with 18.
Ironically, FEU head coach Olsen Racela thought his team’s record-setting performance also caused its downfall.
“We relied too much on our offense,” Racela told reporters after FEU’s 87-84 loss. “In the fourth quarter, we didn’t really have to score, we just had to make stops.”
READ: NU keeps Final 4 bid alive, pulls rug from under FEU
The Tamaraws eclipsed the previous record set by the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons earlier in the season when they hit 16 triples in a stunning win over the De La Salle Green Archers two months ago.
But what stood out for Racela was FEU attempting 42 threes.
“We fell in love with the 3-point shot, 42 attempts is way too much, way too many,” he said. “I told them at the half, the defense will win it for us but it didn’t happen that way in the second half.”
FEU wasted a golden opportunity to close in on a Final Four berth and instead will have to take the longer trip to the big dance.
READ: FEU ‘lost discipline’ in 4th in loss to Ateneo, says Racela
“We were up and we let it slip away and now we made it harder for ourselves we have to win our game against Adamson on Saturday,” Racela said.
“It’s getting slimmer but we still have a chance. We just have to win on Saturday with a little help from Ateneo. But there’s nothing we could do but to focus on Saturday. I know this is a devastating loss, but we cannot be too low.”