MANILA, PHILIPPINES—A rain of triples powered Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas to key victories in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum, where a little coaching drama nearly threatened to take the spotlight away from the games.
Reedy forward Paul Sanga nailed six triples as the Tamaraws started hot then bucked a late surge by the Paul Lee-led UE Warriors to hack out a 91-81 victory, FEU’s third straight in as many outings.
“We won by 10 points, but it was actually a close game,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio, who drew a double-double from Aldrech Ramos (15 points, 13 rebounds) to stretch the team’s unbeaten start to the season.
In the earlier match, UST leaned on Jeric Fortuna’s eight three-pointers in an 87-81 victory over a UP squad whose preseason promise is slowly spiraling in a whirl of coaching controversy that has highlighted its 0-3 start.
Coach Aboy Castro, who was brimming with optimism, at the start of the season, quit as head coach of the Fighting Maroons after two games, fueling speculations that Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez is set to take over the squad.
Castro filed a leave of absence from the team due to “personal reasons” late Wednesday, just three days after Fernandez joined the Maroons as consultant.
Although assistant Sebastian “Potit” De Vera has been named as interim coach, Fernandez was caught on TV drawing up a play during a crucial part of the match, just before regulation ended.
“Coach Aboy sent us a message that he’s going to go on leave for personal reasons. He informed us yesterday (Wednesday),” said Leilanai Gonzalo, UP’s representative to the UAAP board. “He’s also with the coaching staff of Talk ‘N Text so it’s possible this could be part of the reason.”
Castro coached UP the past two seasons.
“I think they (players) are taking it all right, they had a dialogue,” said UP team manager Ponciano Rivera. “His (Fernandez’s) concentration as consultant is on defense. Defense is his expertise.”
The Maroons looked headed for a slump-snapping victory after seizing control in the first period, but could not contain the white-hot Fortuna the rest of the way. Fortuna wound up with 29 points as UST notched its scond win in three outings.
His eight triples was the most in the league since NU’s Jeff Napa fired 10 treys in 2001.
Overall, the Tigers finished with 16 triples, four in the extra period. UP contributed to the deluge of treys, draining nine. As if those were not enough, FEU and UE combined for 18 in the second game, with the Tamaraws and the Warriors draining eight each.
Lee had four of UE’s treys as he scored 24 of his game-high 27 points in the middle periods in rallying his squad almost singlehandedly.
But the FEU defense—and a case of cramps—slowed Lee down in the fourth quarter, and the talented Tamaraws simply overpowered the Warriors to remain on top of the standings.
Aljon Mariano also fired three triples to finish with 18 markers and Jeric Teng added 13, including a free throw with 3.5 ticks left in regulation that forged the extra period, 69-69.
Teng nearly threw the game away for the Tigers, committing the rear end of back-to-back errors that paved the way for Woody Co to step into the stripe with a shot at padding a 69-68 edge.
But Co missed both freebies and both teams went to centercourt with 6.2 seconds remaining for a jumpball after a double lane violation. The Tigers won the tip and Mike Silungan fouled Teng for the split that sent the match into overtime.
“Patay na, nabuhay pa (We were given up for dead, but we survived),” said UST coach Pido Jarencio.
UST’s 16 three-pointers also tied the record for most number of triples made in a game set by Adamson in 2006.
The scores:
First Game
UST 87–Fortuna 29, Mariano 18, Teng 13, Bautista 9, Daquioag 6, Camus 6, Afuang 4, Pe 2, Wong 0, Tinte 0, Mamaril 0, Lo 0, Marquez 0, Aytona 0.
UP 81–Sison 9, Reyes Ma. 19, Silungan 16, Padilla 10, Co 9, Lopez 8, Saret 0, Manuel 0, Reyes Mi. 0, Maniego 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0.
Quarters: 12-15, 39-32, 57-56, 69-69 (reg), 87-81 (OT)
Second Game
FEU 91–Sanga 18, Ramos 17, Garcia 14, Cervantes 11, Noundou 10, Romeo 9, Bringas 6, Mendoza 2, Exciminiano 2, Cawaling 2, Knuttel 0.
UE 81–Lee 27, Acibar 16, Casajeros 12, Duran 10, Reyes 9, Zamar 5, Razon 2, Santos 0, Rosopa 0, Martinez 0.
Quarters: 28-12, 43-36, 67-66 91-81