Tams trim Tigers, land in Final 4

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U bucked the absence of Reil Cervantes to turn back University of Santo Tomas, 76-67, and nail the first berth in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 73 men’s basketball tourney at the PhilSports Arena yesterday.

The Tamaraws turned to Aldrech Ramos and backup big men Carl Cruz and Mark Bringas in filling the hole left by the suspended Cervantes and backstopping guards Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia to go 9-1 and make the semis for the 13th time overall.

“We’re happy to be in the Final Four but then the job’s not over yet. Our target is really to be at the top or at least No. 2 (in the next phase), said FEU coach Glen Capacio.

Earlier, University of the East gave giant-killer Adamson a dose of its own medicine, pulling off a 71-63 upset over the erstwhile No. 2 Falcons.

Cervantes served out his one-game suspension for incurring a second unsportsmanlike foul in their last outing but starting center Ramos responded by drilling in 21 points to go with 15 rebounds, six assists and two shot blocks.

Cruz added eight points and Bringas had seven to complement Ramos, Romeo (13 markers) and Garcia (11 points, five boards and four assists) in dealing the Tigers their fifth straight loss and seventh overall in 10 outings.

“Even back in the pre-season I told my boys that I want a rotation of up to 12 players, a team that does not depend on one man,” said Capacio. “And for this game, credit belongs to my big men for stepping up in the absence of Reil and the less than 100 percent condition of (forward) Pippo Noundou (sore knee), especially Aldrech.”

Ramos, Romeo, Garcia and Cruz took turns in scoring baskets in a 4-5 salvo that gave the Tams a 71-54 edge entering the final 2:15.

Veterans Paul Lee and James Martinez starred in the big reversal for UE, which at 3-7 still entertains a long-shot hope of crashing into the semis.

Lee made the key defensive stops and dish-offs while Martinez nailed the crucial baskets in a searing 12-3 fourth quarter assault that won it for the Warriors and dropped the Falcons to No. 3 at 7-3.

“It’s really like that when your back’s against the wall – you go all out for a win,” said UE coach Lawrence Chongson, whose wards stand a good three games off third-running La Salle’s 6-3.

“Our season’s on the line and we want to win all our games, although there’s no guarantee that we’ll make it to the Final Four. If La Salle wins two more, we’re still out of it,” added Chongson.

Martinez topscored for UE with 16 points, including nine in the fourth, while Ken Acibar, a recipient of two crucial assists from Lee in the windup, added 15. Lord Casajeros had 14 and Lee finished with eight markers, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.         – Olmin Leyba

“Paul Lee and James Martinez are really the backbone of our team. We’re just waiting for the two of them to explode, and fortunately we had that today,” the UE mentor said.

Adamson, the only team to have so far defeated the rampaging leader Far Eastern Tamaraws (8-1), was led by Jan Colina’s 13, Eric Camson’s 13 and Lester Alvarez’s 11.