Tamaraws send Maroons reeling; Archers rise

UP guard Jett Manuel scored 16 points in a losing effort against FEU on Sunday. The Fighting Maroons have now lost two in a row after starting the season at 2-0. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It may have looked like Far Eastern University easily shredded another opponent, but coach Nash Racela noted their scoring touch isn’t as easy as flipping a switch.

“It’s a hard-earned win,” said Racela after his Tamaraws whipped University of the Philippines, 75-58, Sunday to grab a share of the lead at 3-1 in the UAAP men’s basketball at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We played better in the second half. But UP is really improving, they’re getting tougher.”

The Tamaraws—who also blasted fancied teams Ateneo by 24 points and La Salle by 18 points—impressed yet again with their plethora of reliable performers, led this time by big man Raymar Jose’s double-double outing of 11 points and 13 rebounds.

“It’s ideal for us that there’s balance,” said Racela. “Over the years, it’s something we’ve developed. Everyone’s involved.”

La Salle also got a much-needed boost with an 88-71 ripping of Adamson, a week after getting whipped by the Tamaraws and absorbing a shock loss to the Maroons.

Despite the wide winning margin, coach Juno Sauler noted his Green Archers’ lapses versus the winless Falcons.

“We still have a lot of things to improve on,” said Sauler. “We gave up too many offensive rebounds to Adamson, turned the ball over a lot of times. There are a lot of things to address.”

But there were also many bright moments, starting with King Archer Jeron Teng teaming up with rookie Joshua Torralba for a hot 24-10 start.
Teng topscored with 18 on top of nine rebounds and five assists.

Veteran guard Thomas Torres thinks the Archers just picked up where they left off in practice.

“Everyday, coming into this game, our practices were great,” said Torres, who pumped in 16 points, nine from three-point range, and had five assists. “The intensity, the energy was there. I think we just brought it to the game.”

The Tamaraws sent the Maroons reeling to their second straight loss after a 2-0 start as stalwarts Mike Tolomia, Achie Iñigo and Roger Pogoy all came through in the second half.

Up by just four early in the fourth quarter, 54-49, the Tamaraws dropped a 12-0 bomb to pull ahead, 65-49, time down to two minutes.

Tolomia finished with 11 points to share scoring honors with Jose, while Iñigo and Jose chipped in 10 each.

The scores:

First Game

LA SALLE 88—Teng 18, Torres 16, Sargent 11, Caracut 9, Torralba 9, Perkins 7, Muyang 6, Tratter 6, Navarro 3, Rivero 2, Gob 1, Pascual 0.
ADAMSON 71—Sarr 18, Nalos 10, Ng 10, Ochea 9, Polican 8, Tungcab 6, Camacho 5, Fernandez 2, Margallo 2, Miranda 1, Bernardo 0, Capote 0, Villanueva 0.
Quarters: 24-10, 47-26, 63-47, 88-71

Second Game
FEU 75—Jose 11, Tolomia 11, Iñigo 10, Pogoy 10, Orizu 8, Arong 7, Belo 5, Escoto Ru. 5, Tamsi 5, Escoto Ri. 2, Comboy 1, Dennison 0, Trinidad 0.
UP 58—Manuel 16, Dario 10, Desiderio 9, Lim 8, Harris 3, Juruena 3, Longa 3, Asilum 2, Kone 2, Moralde 2, Amar 0, Gallarza 0, Jaboneta 0, Prado 0, Vito 0, Webb 0.
Quarters: 13-8, 28-29, 51-45, 75-58