Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Far Eastern University rounded out the Final Four cast of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament after dragging Adamson University to the ground, 71-54, Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The fourth-seeded Tamaraws ended their elimination campaign with a 7-7 record and ultimately ousted no. 5 University of the Philippines (6-8) from the semifinal race.
Although its lead wasn’t threatened in the fourth, FEU still made sure that Adamson didn’t put its Final Four aspirations at risk.
The Tamaraws clamped down on the Falcons and mounted a 10-4 closing run with Prince Orizu capping it off with a three-point play 2:02 left in the game that gave FEU a 69-54 lead.
“I have to hand it to them, they never gave up, they really had this immense fortitude that they wanted to go to the Final Four,” said FEU head coach Olsen Racela, who reminded his team not to be distracted by the implication of their game.
UP needed Adamson to win get a playoff for the no. 4 spot against FEU, and Racela told his team not to think about the Fighting Maroons.
“I told them to don’t think about the first game, don’t event hink about the Final Four, just think about this game.”
Arvin Tolentino led the Tamaraws 14 points while Prince Orizu had 10 points, 12 boards, and two blocks.
Rob Manalang had 15 points to lead Adamson while Papi Sarr had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Adamson lost two main players in Jerrick Ahanmisi and Jerie Pingoy, who got hurt during the duration of the game.
Ahanmisi left the floor just before halftime and did not return to play for the remainder of the match while Pingoy sprained his left ankle with 5:22 left in the game after landing on Jasper Parker’s foot.