FEU avenges 1st round loss to UE, claims share of 4th

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

ANTIPOLO—Far Eastern University finally got retribution from its first round loss to University of the East after cruising to an 80-61 win in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Ynares center here.

The Tamaraws fell victim to the Red Warriors in just their fourth game of the year losing horribly, 90-65.

And it’s not just the stinging loss to UE that FEU bounced back from as it also snapped its four-game losing skid to improve to 6-6, tying University of the Philippines in the fourth spot.

Tamaraws head coach Olsen Racela the win gave them a crucial extension in his team’s Final Four bid after falling to as low as sixth in the standings.

“This is a new lease on life after that four-game losing streak and this was our first win of the second round,” said Racela. “We’re hoping to get the next game and another one to keep our hopes alive.”

FEU started to create space across the first two quarter going on an 18-2 run to take a 34-13 lead after back-to-back threes courtesy of Arvin Tolentino midway through the second period.

Tolentino was a stable presence for the Tamaraws with 18 points, five rebounds, and two steals while Kenneth Tuffin added 17 points, eight of which came in the first and six from the fourth, and four boards.

Barkley Eboña did much of the dirty work for FEU with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

Alvin Pasaol finished with a game-high 24 points with 12 boards for the last placed Red Warriors who dropped to a 1-11 record.