Listless Tams win leaves coach at a loss

Games on Saturday  (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2 p.m. – DLSU vs UP

4 p.m. – UST vs AdMU

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U dished out what its coach felt was a disappointing performance but still went away with a 71-62 win over Adamson to close out first round action in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

The Tams took command late in the first quarter and did just enough to score their fifth win against two losses and finish at No. 2 behind Ateneo’s 6-1 at the halfway point of the double-round elims.

“I want to be happy with the win but (I just can’t),” said FEU mentor Nash Racela.

He was ruing his charges’ “inconsistent” ways, of tending to play their brand of basketball in one stretch and slacking off in the next. The Tams seemed in control when they took a 36-26 lead at the start of the third but allowed the coach Kenneth Duremdes-less Falcons to come to within 35-40. A 17-2 counterattack restored a 57-37 margin for FEU.

“With the way we played today, I think I have a big problem as a coach. I don’t think the players understand me or what I’m trying to teach them with the way they played. Wala, medyo lost ako, naiinis ako sa players ko (I feel lost. I’m just mad right now),” said Racela.

“I will be consistent in saying we have a legit chance this year but if we continuously commit our mistakes and at least not try to correct it, I don’t think we’ll make it all the way,” he added.

Mike Tolomia topscored with 21, spiked by three triples, while Mac Belo added 13 markers to lead FEU.

Don Trollano fired 17 for Adamson (0-7), who was coached by assistant Vince Hizon in the absence of Duremdes. “Captain Marbel” is in Bahrain to “attend to family matters.”

In the first game, University of the East snapped a four-game slump as it trampled a Karim Abdul-less Santo Tomas, 72-62.

The Warriors held the toothless Tigers to a measly four points in the second to seize control and showed the finishing kick this time en route to their third win for fifth place.

The Tigers, who were reduced to a so-so squad with Abdul out on viral infection, plummeted to their fourth consecutive setback for 3-4.

“We really wanted to end the first round on a winning note, especially coming off four heartbreaking losses. In order for us to still get a shot at the Final Four and to be right there behind the top four, this is a very important win,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren.

Emil Palma led the way for UE with 14 points, all in the third where the Warriors stormed to 60-31. Without Abdul, Charles Mammie made 12 points and 13 rebounds as Roi Sumang had eight after leaving the game with a sprained right ankle in the third.

Aljon Mariano posted a double-double of 21-10 plus three assists for UST, which finished sixth after the first.

The Tigers unleashed a 14-0 blast to start the fourth and chopped the Warriors’ huge lead to 15 with over six minutes left. But unlike in UE’s previous loss, the Recto-based cagers held on, countering with an 8-0 salvo to pull away again.

“At the end it was not really a good win. We relaxed again after leading by 20. But for now, a win is a win. We gotta get out of our hump and hopefully, this game will be a good start for us,” Pumaren said.

Notes: Savoring the addictive taste of victory after 27 consecutive heartaches and the smell of bonfire, University of the Philippines now harbors a bigger dream  – the Final Four. “It will be the target next year especially at a time UP is the host,” UP manager Dan Palami said. He said initial steps are being made to strengthen the team by sending the players to “specialized” training sessions, complemented by scouting and recruitment efforts abroad. Meantime, the task is to feed off on the breakthrough 77-64 win over Adamson. “The bigger win was being able to unite the UP community off the court and we just to direct the support properly para hindi masayang yung ibibigay nilang suporta (so it goes to where it should),” Palami said.

The scores:

First Game

UE 72 – Palma 14, Mammie 12, Galanza 9, Sumang 8, Arafat 7, Alberto 6, Javier 6, Olayon 3, Charcos 2, de Leon 2, Varilla 2, Jumao-as 1, Cudal 0, Derige 0, Guiang 0, Hernandez 0.

UST 62 – Mariano 21, Ferrer 12, Vigil 8, Faundo 7, Sheriff 4, Daquiaog 3, Pe 3, Lo 2, Lao 1, Subido 1, Gayosa 0, Macasaet 0.

Quarterscores: 19-11, 32-15, 60-31, 72-62.

Second Game

FEU 71 – Tolomia 21, Belo 13, Pogoy 9, Hargrove 6, Cruz 5, Tamsi 4, Denila 3, Inigo 3, Lee Yu 3, Escoto 2,Ugsang 1, David 1, Delfinado 0.

AdU 62 – Trollano 17, Rios 16, Nalos 8, Donahue 6, Polican 5,Inigo 4, Aquino 2, Baytan 2, Gumtang 2, Barrera 0, Butron 0, Garcia 0, Monteclaro 0, Ochea 0, Pedrosa 0, Villanueva 0.

Quarterscores: 24-17, 34-26, 58-43, 71-62.