Tams give Spain-bound coach great send-off, repel Archers

MANILA, Philippines – It was a fitting “despedida” party for Spain-bound Far Eastern U coach Nash Racela.

As their way of saying “bon voyage” to Racela, the Tamaraws hacked out a huge 74-70 victory over defending champion La Salle for the solo lead in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tourney Wednesday at the MOA Arena.

Mike Tolomia, who is still recuperating from tonsillitis and fever, punched in five of his 22 points in the last 14.8 seconds to secure the Tams’ eighth win in 10 games that served as their going-away present to their coach.

Racela, was scheduled to leave on a night flight to Spain, where he would join Gilas Pilipinas for their Fiba World Cup campaign.

 “That’s the objective: To get a victory today,” he said “Mahirap if you travel for more than 20 hours tapos talo, baka hindi ako nakatulog niyan (It would be a weary 20-hour travel for me had we lost this one). Ngayon medyo okay, thanks to my players."

The Archers saw their seven-game roll snapped and slid to joint third with Ateneo and National U with 7-3.

Tolomia hardly showed the effect of his illness that had him hospitalized for four days.

After La Salle cut FEU’s eight-point lead to a mere 71-70 edge, Tolomia took charge and delivered the coup de grace.

He cashed in on the front-end of his freebies off Julian Sargent, missed the second but collared the offensive board when rebounders somehow froze while boxing one another out. He gamely put it home for a 74-70 cushion with 5.9 ticks left.

“Maganda dun yung instinct ni Mike,” said Racela. “Ang instruction namin dun is make sure to match up. Hindi tayo matakbuhan, hindi ma-shoot-an. On his part, that was a gamble kasi kung biglang nakawala yung tao niya. sometimes you have to trust your instinct.”

Tolomia, who rejoined the team’s practice only last Tuesday, recalled a conversation with Jeron Teng prior to the free throws.

“Sabi niya i-mintis ko,” said Tolomia, smiling. “Sabi ko sa kanya nung huli, minintis ko ah.”

The Tams wept DLSU in their two-game matchup in the elims and stretched their streak to five games.

Racela will be out for FEU’s next two matches against UP and Adamson and will return in time for their duel with UE on Sept. 7.

La Salle was in control early on, leading by as many as 12 and ending the first 20 minutes with a 35-26. But FEU erupted to life in the third, outscoring DLSU, 26-16, to get back into the game.

“It was obvious they we’re tentative in the first half. I don’t know, maybe it’s because we’re playing a ‘perceived finalist’. Sabi namin (we told them) you can’t be tentative against a very strong team like La Salle,” Racela said.

Mac Belo added 11 points and eight rebounds while Achie Inigo added 10.

Jeron Teng waxed hot with 28 markers along with eight rebounds and four assists that went for naught DLSU.