Tamaraws rip Tigers apart

FAR Eastern University’s Anthony Hargrove applies the pressure on a shooting Karim Abdul of UST in yesterday’s game. RODEL ROTONI

Far Eastern University didn’t even give  University of Santo Tomas a shot at a payback.

Mounting an early shooting spree, the Tamaraws foiled the Tigers’ bid for the solo lead with a surprise 87-60 rout at the start of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament second round yesterday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tamaraws, who forged a tie for second with their victims at 6-2, shot a staggering 69 percent from the field in the first half to build a 28-point lead at 47-19.

National University managed to regain its poise in overtime as the Bulldogs trimmed Adamson, 81-77, in the first game.

The Falcons staged an incredible comeback from nine points down in the last 25 seconds to forge the extension, 71-71, but the Bulldogs came back strong with an 8-0 start in overtime on the way to their fifth win in eight games.

Ray Parks came up with another huge game of 31 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals to power the Bulldogs.

Terrence Romeo fired 19 points as the Tamaraws repeated over the Tigers, who lost to FEU, 73-72, in the first round.

“We controlled the boards and we had good ball movement,” said coach Bert Flores after his Tamaraws snapped the Tigers’ six-game win streak.

The Tamaraws’ 61.3 clip was also the highest shooting percentage by a winning team in the last decade.

Parks, who exploded for 35 points in his last game, emerged the first player to score back-to-back 30-pointers since UE’s James Yap’s consecutive 36- and 30-point outings in 2002.

The scores:

First Game

NU 81—Parks 31, Mbe 14, Roño 9, De Guzman 9, Rosario 6, Villamor 5, Alolino 4, Javillonar 3, Singh 0, Neypes 0.

ADAMSON 77—Camson 23, Cabrera 22, Cruz 12, Rios 9, Etrone 4, Monteclaro 3, Abrigo 3, Cabigas 1, Trollano 0, Petilos 0, Olalia 0, Julkipli 0, Brondial 0, Agustin 0.

Quarters: 16-14, 27-23, 46-41, 71-71 (reg.), 81-77

Second Game

FEU 87—Romeo 19, Pogoy 13, Hargrove 13, A. Bringas 10, M. Bringas 8, Tolomia 7, Garcia 5, Sentcheu 4, Mendoza 4, Belo 2, Cruz 2, Iñigo 0, Jose 0, Guerrero 0.

UST 60—Mariano 15, Fortuna 12, Abdul 11, Bautista 8, Vigil 4, Ferrer 4, Teng 2, Pe 2, Daquioag 2, Lo 0, Haingan 0, Garrido 0.

Quarters: 26-9, 47-19, 66-40, 87-60