Tams rap Maroons, close in on semifinal

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern University outgunned State U in the fourth quarter and hacked out a 68-57 victory yesterday to seize the solo lead and move one step closer to clinching at least a playoff for a Final Four berth in the 77th UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Roger Pogoy led the way with 17 points while Mark Belo and Mike Tolomia scattered 12 and 11, respectively, as the Tams streaked to their seventh straight win and eighth overall against a loss.

To gain outright entry to the semis, FEU needs only to  beat La Salle on Sunday at the MOA Arena.

But FEU coach Nash Racela was quick to brush aside talks about the Final Four because it’s too early.

“We’re more concerned in looking for improvements and not thinking about the Final Four. One game at a time,” said Racela.

The Maroons fell to 3-6.

Earlier, La Salle went to the high-scoring duo of Jeron Teng and Thomas Torres in the first half and then to its defense in the fourth quarter as it turned back University of the East, 72-64, to move up to solo third place with a 5-4 record.

Teng and Torres unloaded 14 points apiece as the Archers built a 41-30 lead at the break and then made key stops in the stretch when the Warriors came roaring back to cut their deficit to just five at the end of the third quarter to seal the win.

Teng finished with a game-high 20 points while Torres had 15.

It was a victory that pushed La Salle from joint third with arch-rival Ateneo (4-4) to solo hold of it.

“Hard-fought game,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler.

The Warriors fell to 3-6.

After playing sluggishly in the first half, UE fought back and outscored La Salle in the third canto, 20-14, to go into the final period trailing by just five.

It was the Warriors’ last hurrah though as the Archers shackled the former with their defense to preserve the win.

While Teng and Torres took care of the scoring, Larry Muyang, Prince Rivero and Jason Perkins did the rest as the frontline troika combined for 24 points and 32 of La Salle’s 54 rebounds.