Hurting Tams upbeat, relish reversal of roles

MANILA, Philippines - As top seeds last year, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws were sideswiped by then lower-ranked Ateneo Blue Eagles in the title duel. Now they are poised to return the favor in the UAAP Season 74 men’s basketbal finale.

“I can see that the players have something to prove, their eyes are telling me they want it as parting gift to Aldrech (Ramos), Ping (Exciminiano), JR (Cawaling), Pippo (Noundou) and Jens (Knuttel),” FEU coach Bert Flores said after the No. 3 Tams overcame the twice-to-beat advantage of No. 2 Adamson to set a title rematch with No.1 Ateneo.

In 2010, the Blue Eagles, after playing second fiddle to the Tams all season long, showed who’s the real boss in a 72-49 Game 1 whitewash. This set the tone for a 65-62 win in a title-clinching Game 2 that saw then coach Glen Capacio missing the entire second half due to high-blood pressure and later quitting.

“I’ll be watching last year’s tapes to analyze how they (Eagles) were able to blow us out in the first game. That was really painful,” said Flores, a consultant back then who expects the returning cast led by RR Garcia, Ramos and Terrence Romeo to be extra motivated to get back at Ateneo.

It won’t be easy, though, given the Eagles’ championship experience and dominating ways throughout Season 74.

“It’s going to be tough because first of all, they have a grand slam PBA champion coach and their players are already used to his system and they have a strong transition game,” Flores admitted.

“You have to stop five players in (Greg) Slaughter, (Kiefer) Ravena, (Nico) Salva, (Kirk) Long and (Emman) Monfort unlike in other teams in which you only have to contain two. In contrast, we’re what you may call   ‘Fighting Injured’’. We’re just blessed to have reached the finals,” he added.

Five FEU stalwarts are nursing an assortment of injuries: Exciminiano (sprained ankle), Russel Escoto (hand), Cawaling (knee), Noundou (Achilles tendon), and Christian Sentcheu (foot). Despite this, the Tams have won six of their last eight games beginning the second round, topped off by the twin wins over F4 rival AdU (59-49 and 74-78) that sent them to the Finals.

No. 1 Ateneo, which has lost only one game this season, reached the championship first via a 69-66 verdict over No. 4 University of Santo Tomas.