UE thwarts FEU

By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 5, 2008

University of the East thumped Far Eastern University, 73-61, yesterday to deny the Tamaraws an outright playoff for the second twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinals of the UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Red Warriors went on a whirlwind start to open up a 23-8 first quarter lead, stretched this to 16 in the next two periods and then held off a short-lived FEU uprising to end their elimination round assignments with a 9-5 record going to their best-of-three semifinals series with top qualifier Ateneo.

The loss closed out the Tamaraws’ elims record at 10-4 . FEU was eyeing a victory that will give the Tamaraws at least a playoff for the No. 2 spot and the twice-to-beat advantage in their semis battle with De La Salle university.

As it is, FEU is now praying for a La Salle loss to Ateneo tomorrow for a playoff for the coveted No. 2 spot. The Archers are carrying a 10-3 card.

"I’m so proud of my boys for the tremendous effort," said UE coach Dindo Pumaren. "FEU looked scared, every time they bring down the ball parang hirap na hirap sila."

Pari Llagas led UE with 17 points on top of seven rebounds while James Martinez added 16 points on 3-of-8 shooting from the three-point area.

"Hopefully maganda pa rin laro namin pero kumpiyansa ako na maganda itatakbo ng team," said Pumaren who will need to beat the Eagles twice to advance to the finals.

"We’re going up right now, yung peak namin tamang-tama, we made some stops in this game especially coming from Raffy Reyes," Pumaren said. "Madadala namin tong panalo na to sa Final Four."

Benedict Fernandez, who succumbed to cramps late in the fnal period, led FEU with 16 points and four rebounds. Reil Cervantes finished with 10 points and five boards with Aldrech Ramos tallied 10 points and seven caroms.

In the first game, Adamson University wrapped up its campaign with a 68-57 victory to end the season with a 3-11 record.

The Falcons leaned on the efforts of veterans Marc Agustin and Paul Gonzalgo to snap a nine-game losing skid that started during the first round of hostilities.

Agustin and Gonzalgo wrapped up their playing careers with the San Marcelino-based cagers in style as the sons of former PBA cagers tallied 18 and 15 points, respectively.

Undergraduate Jerick Canada added 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals while Alex Nuyles chipped in 10 markers and nine boards.

"I’m happy na hindi kami nakulelat ngayon," said Adamson coach Leo Austria. "People were expecting us to be the darkhorse team pero siguro next season we’ll try our best to get into the Final Four and I think may potential yung team."

"We did our best, pero we came up short but it’s a good lesson for us," added Austria, who reassumed his duties as Falcons’ mentor after leaving the team in 2006 to coach Welcoat in the PBA.

Raymund Aguilar finished with 14 points and nine rebounds as the Bulldogs finished the year with a 2-12 card, losing its final six games. Edwin Asoro, who is also playing his last season, was held to six points on 2-of-8 shooting.