There were no tense endgame dramatics this time as Far Eastern University mangled winless University of the East, 92-66, yesterday, allowing the Tamaraws to fortify their hold of league leadership halfway through the first round of the 75th UAAP men’s basketball competitions at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo combined for 37 points, 11 rebounds and 16 assists while American Anthony Hargrove and big man Arvie Bringas added 11 points each as the Tamaraws plastered their university belt neighbors by deficits of as many as 27 points (84-57) before coasting to their fourth straight win and remain as the only unbeaten squad in this eight-team tournament. UE, on the other hand, continued to struggle with its third loss in a row.
And after winning their first three outings by the skin of their teeth and by an average of only two points, the Tamaraws made sure that their Sunday outing against the Warriors would offer no tough challenges at endgame.
There were a lot more frayed nerves in the second game as Adamson University needed an extra five minutes to put away a stubborn University of the Philippines, 69-67, for the Falcons’ first win in three games while sending the Maroons to the bottom of the standings with the Warriors.
Slotman Rodney Brondial collared the offensive rebound off a miss by rookie guard Jericho Cruz, with 10 seconds left, that shattered a 67-all count and finally staved off the pesky Maroons who came back from deficits of as many as 20 points (8-28) before sending the game into overtime at 50-all on back-to-back baskets by rookie Henry Asilum.
If there was any serious threat that the Tamaraws allowed the Warriors to launch, it was early in the game when a tentative and complacent FEU first five fell back at 9-18, with 2:30 left in the first period.