Tamaraws march to 6-0

Manila, Philippines - Far Eastern University (FEU) took away Adamson University’s inside game early on and proved steadier down the stretch to fashion out a 74-65 win yesterday in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

Shutting the passing lanes and clogging the middle with brute resolve, FEU limited Adamson’s big men to a measly total of 34 points while confidently scoring on a variety of drives and backdoor plays which gave the Tamaraws a 42-32 halftime lead at the turn.

“We controlled the game with our defense. Defensively this was our best game. Our big men did a good job at defending the paint and even managed to extend their defense up to the three-point line to prevent Adamson’s bigs from making screens,” FEU coach Glenn Capacio said after the Tamaraws clinched their sixth straight victory to remain at solo first.

FEU’s second unit ably complemented its starters with back-up guards Jens Knuttel and Chris Exciminiano dishing out 10 and 8 points, respectively and joining RR Garcia, Aldrech Ramos and Pippo Noundou in several runs bridging the second and third quarters.

“Yung first group nagru-rub off ang intensity dun sa second group kaya balanced ang atake namin. Nagtutulungan lahat sa opensa at depensa,” Capacio added, referring to the Tamaraws’ season-high 21 assists.

A Knuttel three-point play late in the second period ignited a14-2 blast tha gave FEU a 48-35 spread

Back-to-back baskets by Knuttel to open the third period gave FEU a 48-35 spread before Alex Nuyles knocked in eight straight points that cut the deficit by a single digit, 43-52.

But FEU responded with a 6-0 blitz capped by two Knuttel free throws to restore the lead, 58-43, with three minutes left in the third.

Exciminiano then starred in a prolonged 14-5 endgame salvo by the Tamaraws where he tallied six markers to put FEU ahead for good, 72-56.

Garcia led the Tamaraws with 16 points while Ramos and Noundou added 13 and 11, respectively.

Nuyles, whose last five points finalized the count for Adamson, wound up with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the perimeter, while Jerick Canada had 11.


The Scores:

FEU 74 – Garcia 16, Ramos 13, Noundou 1, Knuttel 10, Exciminiano 8, Cervantes 6, Cawaling 5, Romeo 3, Cruz 2, Mendoza 0, Bringas 0, Sanga 0.

ADU 65 – Nuyles 23, Canada 11, Camson 8, Alvarez 7, Colina 4, Cabrera 4, Stinnett 2, Manyara 2, Lozada 2, Basilio 2, Etrone 0, Galinato 0.

Quarter scores: 24-18, 42-32, 58-49, 74-65.

Anthony Divinagracia, UAAP Sports