Dennis Miranda took charge when the cramps-hit Catli was pulled out in the third quarter, sizzling for 16 points, including a baseline jumper with less than three minutes remaining in the contest as Tamaraws outscored the Warriors, 9-5, to claim the crucial victory before a big Sunday crowd.
FEU thus moved a step closer from barging into the championship round for the first time in three years as it guns for another win over UE in the semifinals on Thursday, also at the Big Dome.
Defending champion Ateneo, on the other hand, takes on arch rival De la Salle in the other semis contest, also armed with a twice-to-beat edge.
"Although the battle is not yet won, this is an important victory for us," said FEU coach Coy Banal, who steered the Tams to the finals on his first year as coach three years ago.
Relying on its fluid offense and solid defense, FEU dominated the first three quarters and even led by 18 points, 69-51, with eight and a half minutes to go.
But the Warriors never gave up and unleashed a counterattack behind the tandem of Ollan Omiping and RJ Masbang as UE closed to within a solitary point, 70-71, behind a blistering 19-2 blast heading into the final three minutes of the contest.
Then Miranda entered the fray as he surged past Paul Artadi to knock in the basket that cushioned the impact of the Tams’ faltering finish before Mark Isip banged in a twinner that gave the Tams a 75-70 lead.
UE actually had a chance to pull within but Charles Tan turned the ball over that led to a three-point play by Arwind Santos on the other side to make it a 78-70 advantage for the Tams.