Rampaging Tigers, Tamaraws pull away from pack

UST forward Kevin Ferrer. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University may have started to pull away from the rest of the pack, but there’s no slowing down for these two UAAP leaders.

Both the Tigers and the Tamaraws hold at least a three-game cushion over their opponents with similar 7-1 records early in the second round of the men’s basketball event.

Rivals Ateneo and La Salle already stand as their closest competitors with similar 4-4 slates.

“The tournament still has a long way to go,” said UST coach Bong dela Cruz. “We’ll see what will happen, but we want to be at 1 or 2.”

Only the top two teams at the end of the elimination round will earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

“Before this [seventh win], we could have been easily at 3-4 or 4-3,” said FEU coach Nash Racela, noting that some of his Tamaraws’ tight victories could have gone the other way and pulled them down to the middle of the pack. “We couldn’t be happy where we are right now. We have to focus more.”

Both FEU and UST boast terrific tandems with Mac Belo and Mike Tolomia making things happen for the Tamaraws, and Ed Daquioag and Kevin Ferrer lifting the Tigers.

But many have also stepped up like Raymar Jose, Roger Pogoy, Russel Escoto and Achie Iñigo giving the Tamaraws a regular lift, while the Tigers also have Louie Vigil, Karim Abdul and Marvin Lee doing the same.