Tamaraws stay focused, wary of 2014 shock foldup

MANILA, Philippines – Burned before by getting carried away by a 1-0 lead in the finals, the Far Eastern U Tamaraws look to complete the job first before bringing out the cigar this time.

“Tulad ng sinabi ni coach, hindi pa tapos ang lahat. Wala na muna mag-celebrate, back-to-zero kami (As coach told us, it’s not over yet. There’s no reason to celebrate yet and we have to treat it like we’re back to zero),” said Tams veteran Roger Pogoy.

The Tams went on a decisive 14-0 binge in the stretch to win Game One of the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball finals over University of Santo Tomas, 75-64, and move on the brink of the coveted crown. They gun for the crown on Saturday.

The Morayta-based cagers had been in this exact situation in 2014 when they jumped the gun on National U only to lose Game Two and eventually the rubber match.

“Last year kasi, parang sobrang saya namin na makuha yung unang panalo so ang naging result noong Game Two at Game Three, parang naging passive kami. Ngayon mas gutom kami (Last season we were so overjoyed after our Game One victory that we turned passive in the next two games. So this time, we’ll go to the second game hungrier than ever),” said Mike Tolomia.

“Mas dadagdagan pa namin ang effort sa Game Two. Iyung focus namin dapat hindi mawala kasi natuto na kami sa nangyari sa amin last year. Kailangan talagang i-push pa (We’ll stay focused, double our efforts, and push ourselves even so as to avoid a repeat of what happened to us last year),” said Mac Belo.

Since the Final Four format was implemented, teams were able to overcome a 0-1 deficit and snatch the crown six times already. The Tigers themselves did it in Seasons 57, 58, and 69 while La Salle accomplished it in Seasons 62 and 76, the last one interestingly at the expense of UST. Then the Bulldogs made the Tams the victims in Season 77.  

UST aims to rally its way back to the plum for the fourth time.

“Very down kami, pero ganoon talaga. Sabi ko sa kanila, today okay lang malungkot pero meron pa namang Game Two kaya dapat sa practice kailangang happy na uli (I told the boys it’s okay to feel sad about this but there’s still Game Two that we have to focus on),” said UST mentor Bong dela Cruz.

The Tigers missed the A-game of Ed Daquioag, who struggled with four markers on a 1-of-7 clip in the opener but dela Cruz expects the seasoned guard to be back in his explosive self on Saturday.

“Si Ed babawi yan, kilala naman natin ang bata. Confident ako sa kanya (We know what Daquioag is capable of. I’m confident he’ll bounce),” dela Cruz said.