FEU continues ‘get-back’ second round by taking down NU

Far Eastern University’s (FEU) rookie coach Sean Chambers went through a baptism of fire in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

The Tamaraws ended round one with a lone win to show out of seven games, but if their 76-72 second-round opening win to Adamson is any indication, FEU is poised for a comeback and Chambers is confident enough to put the whole league on notice.

“Everybody who got a chance to get at us when we were younger, now it’s time for us to turn the table. I believe that,” Chambers said. “I believe we’re going to be a problem for everybody moving forward.”

“Bawi lang, they’re next. So we’re after everybody,” Chambers added.

Everybody should take note.

FEU strung up its first winning streak under Chambers after hitting back at National University (NU), 65-58, at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

Royce Alforque knocked down crucial baskets in the stretch, while Jorick Bautista delivered the dagger triple with nine seconds remaining as the Bulldogs got back at skidding NU.

“We just stayed together, played it possession-by-possession,” Alforque said after the match.

Trailing by two late in the fourth, the Tamaraws outscored the Bulldogs by nine on the way home to avenge a 62-20 defeat in the first round that boiled down to three missed free throws in the end.

Kill list

That close call has been the story for FEU so far, with no team beating them by more than 12 points. The Tamaraws’ two victories so far were crafted in overtime. Its lone win in the first round came against Ateneo, 66-65. In both games, Bautista stepped up to bail FEU out.

He did it again on Wednesday against the Bulldogs, coming alive in the fourth to secure FEU’s third win in nine games.

“It just feels good [to come in big] for my team in our wins. We have been here before so we already know what we need to do,” Bautista said. “I am thankful to the coaches who have given me so much trust.”

Next on the kill list of the Tamaraws are University of Santo Tomas (UST), University of the East, La Salle, Ateneo and University of the Philippines.

Laying foundation

At the start, it seemed like Far Eastern was merely looking to lay the foundation for the future of its program. The taste of victory, however, and the fact that they were in contention in several of their losses has the team dreaming big. Like, Final Four big.

But the Tamaraws have to back up their act by being a lot meaner on the court. And they have the attitude to do just that.

“What I like about us is, most teams are not happy to be 3-6 (win-loss). We are happy where we are right now because it shows the improvement and the momentum,” Chambers said. The Tamaraws face UST next.

“We’ll be prepared for them,” Chambers said. “I’m very impressed with their style of play so we just have to go and prepare for them.”