UAAP: FEU back on track, holds off NU to get share of third spot

Far Eastern University bounced back from a humiliating loss and took care of National University, 73-68, in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tamaraws, who got socked by erstwhile winless University of the East 90-65 on Sunday, got back on track and joined La Salle at no. 3 with a 3-2 card.

After a tit-for-tat first half, FEU managed to create some leeway in the third and early fourth quarter, taking a 59-49 on Wendell Comboy’s three that capped off a 15-2 run.

The Bulldogs managed to cut the Tamaraws’ lead to three, 66-63, but Comboy and Kenneth Tuffin immediately responded by scoring five unanswered points to put FEU up by eight with 1:07 left in the game.

FEU head coach Olsen Racela was satisfied with how his team responded after such a debilitating loss but said  he wants consistency from his players as the first round nears its close.

“Of course you’re always with a bounce back victory but our problem is after the victory,” said Racela.

FEU hasn’t won back-to-back games this season with their matches alternating between wins and losses.

“This has been our story, we won the first game then we lost the second then we get a bounce back victory but we will lose the next,” added Racela. “More than bouncing back, what we need is to be consistent in our approach every game.”

Comboy finished with 18 points and three assists for the Tamaraws while Tuffin, Arvin Tolentino, and Louell Gonzales each had nine points.

John Lloyd Clemente put up 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists for the Bulldogs who fell to 1-4.