Tamaraws escape Warriors

Far Eastern University (FEU) rediscovered its winning form in crunch time but needed extra five minutes and another superb performance from main man RR Garcia to ward off a gutsy University of the East (UE) challenge for a hard-earned 83-77 overtime victory yesterday in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

The Tamaraws withstood a three-minute scoring lull deep into the fourth quarter that saw them squandering a 72-63 lead as Garcia nailed a key floater with 19.7 seconds left in the extra period to deliver the winning cushion for FEU at 82-77.

Garcia registered a game-high 23 points, nine of them coming in the second frame where the Tamaraws erected their biggest lead at 36-20 before the Warriors slowly clawed back on Paul Zamar’s impeccable 11-of-11 shooting from the stripe, keeping UE within howling distance at the intermission, 41-34.

Both teams engaged in a nip-and-tuck affair early in the third with FEU protecting a 50-43 lead. But the Warriors suddenly came to life in the last five minutes of the quarter as Zamar, James Martinez, Raphy Reyes, and Paul Lee, who was 0-of-7 in the first half, put UE within two 53-55, going into the final canto.

An 8-0 FEU run capped by Garcia’s behind-the-spine lay-up against Lee eight minutes into the fourth hiked the Tamaraws’ lead to 66-57 before both squads went scoreless in the next two minutes of play.

UE then jacked up a dizzying 9-0 countersalvo highlighted by a Reyes triple and an Erwin Duran follow-up off a Lee miss with 1:27 remaining to force only the second deadlock of the game at 72-all after trailing by as much as 61-70.

The Tamaraws had a chance to end the game in regulation but Garcia muffed an open lay-up with 17.2 ticks remaining while Reyes’ possible game-winner at the turn just kissed the rim, setting up the extra session.

Garcia got ample backing from Cervantes and Aldrech Ramos who finished with 19 and 13 points, respectively.

Zamar and Acibar led four Warriors in double-figures with 18 markers apiece.

The Scores:

FEU 83 – Garcia 23, Cervantes 19, Ramos 13, Cawaling 8, Exciminiano 6, Romeo 5, Noundou 5, Bringas 2, Knuttel 2.

UE 77 – Zamar 18, Acibar 18, Reyes 11, Lee 10 Martinez 9, Casajeros 5, Duran 4, Tagarda 2.

Quarter scores: 21-10, 41-34, 58-55, 72 (reg), 83-77.

Anthony Divinagracia, UAAP Sports