Torres, Sleat, Abarrientos carrying FEU in UAAP win streak

MANILA, Philippines – Look who has barged into the playoff picture — the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

After losing their first two assignments of the second round against Adamson and UP, the Tamaraws have won three straight to even their record to 6-6 in Season 84 of the UAAP Men’s Basketball tournament.

FEU outlasted La Salle in the end game, 67-62, to gain solo fourth place while dropping La Salle to 7-5; although still at third. The back end of this streak was against National University (59-57) and the University of the East (91-61).

Against UE and La Salle, FEU got off to a good start and finished strong. 

In this three-match win streak, gunner Xyrus Torres has played great. Torres has averaged 15.0 points with four triples per game and shooting 47.0% from the field. 

Rookie Patrick Sleat has likewise come on strong in the past two matches where he has averaged 11.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals against 2.0 turnovers in almost 20 minutes of action. 

Star rookie RJ Abarrientos, who was held to single digits against NU, came alive also in these past two wins. 

Abarrientos scored 21 points against La Salle and 12 against the UE Red Warriors for a 16.5 average.

Second-year point guard LJ Gonzales has averaged 8.6 points and 5.3 assists in this ongoing run. 

Aside from FEU, the other team that has surged in this second round is Adamson. The Soaring Falcons are 4-1 in the second round.

Skidding in this second round is both NU and DLSU. 

The Bulldogs have lost their first four of five matches of the second round while the Green Archers are 2-3.