FEU trips Adamson, La Salle stuns UST in UAAP

(From Inquirer)

Defense-minded Far Eastern University showcased its remarkable shooting this time to roll to a sixth straight triumph on Sunday.

The unbeaten Tamaraws recorded the league’s highest shooting percentage in seven years to clip the Adamson Falcons, 74-65, and strengthen their hold of top spot in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament, on Sunday, at the PhilSports Arena.

RR Garcia led a balanced offensive with 16 points as the Tamaraws registered an impressive 57.4 percent shooting clip and pushed the Falcons to a share of third with the idle Ateneo Blue Eagles at 3-2.

The Tamaraws’ shooting clip was the highest since Sept. 4, 2003, when University of the East shot 60 percent in its 80-69 triumph over National University.

FEU veteran Aldrech Ramos collected 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while Cameroonian Pipo Noundou posted 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Tamaraws.

“I know that the other teams are focusing their defense on me, so it’s good that everyone’s contributing,” said Garcia, a former RP Youth team member.

The Tamaraws posted a staggering 60.7 shooting clip in the first half and took a 42-32 advantage, before stretching the gap to as many as 15 points, 58-43, in the third quarter.

But Capacio said the Tamaraws, who would shoot for a first-round sweep against the Tigers on Saturday, need to work on their end game.

“I’m not happy with our finish; we had turnovers down the stretch,” said Capacio.

Alex Nuyles, who shot a game-high 23 points, towed the Falcons to within 58-51, before the Tamaraws responded with a 14-5 spurt to erect a 72-56 lead.

While the title-favorite Tamaraws continued to live up to their billing, La Salle’s young Green Archers sustained their aggressive run by grabbing solo second after downing the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 61-53, in the second game.

The Archers raced to a 19-point advantage, 41-22, and bucked the Tigers’ fourth-quarter rally to clinch their fourth victory in six games. UST slipped to fifth at 3-3.

“I can’t say anything more, I’m proud of the boys,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio. “From our first group to the third group, the intensity was the same. Offensively and defensively, this is our best game.”

In the La Salle versus UST game, Jovet Mendoza topscored with 16 points, but the Archers also drew solid games from rookies Almond Vosotros and Luigi dela Paz.

“Our gameplan was to play defense above the three-point area because we know UST loves to shoot,” said La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren.

The scores:

First Game

FEU 74 —Garcia 16, Ramos 13, Noundou 11, Knuttel 10, Exciminiano 8, Cervantes 6, Cawaling 5, Romeo 3, Cruz 2, Mendoza 0, Bringas 0, Sanga 0.

ADAMSON 65 —Nuyles 23, Cañada 11, Camson 8, Alvarez 7, Colina 4, Cabrera 4, Stinnett 2, Manyara 2, Lozada 2, Basillio 2, Etrone 0, Galinato 0.

Quarters: 24-18, 42-32, 58-49, 74-65

Second Game

LA SALLE 61 —Mendoza 12, Vosotros 8, Dela Paz 8, Villanueva 8, Atkins 7, Tolentino 6, Andrada 6, Tampus 2, Paredes 2, Marata 2, Webb 0, Ferdinand 0.

UST 53 —Bautista 18, Camus 13, Mariano 8, Afuang 6, Pe 4, Teng 2, Fortuna 2, Daquioag 0, Marquez

Quarters: 15-12, 37-22, 47-33, 61-53

UAAP: Adamson downs UST; FEU routs UP

(From Inquirer)

Adamson University continued its impressive play after warding off University of Santo Tomas, 75-71, Sunday in the 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Dynamic guard Lester Alvarez took charge in the end game en route to a team-high 22 points, four of which came from long distance for the Faclons, who are now tied with La Salle in second place with a 3-1 slate.

Jeric Teng, meanwhile, exploded with a game-high 23 markers on 7-of-14 shooting from the three-point area for the Tigers, who suffered its second setback in four stints.

UST once again caught fire from downtown as it tied its own record for most three-point shots with 16, a mark it set against UP in its last game.

In the first game, the Far Eastern University rolled to its fourth straight victory in the 94-70 drubbing of University of the Philippines.

Terrence Romeo led all scorers with 21 points on three-of-five shooting from beyond the arch as the Tamaraws brought the Maroons its fourth straight loss.

Tams eye third straight win

(From Manila Bulletin)

Games Thursday (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. — UP vs UST
4 p.m. — FEU vs UE

It’s payback time for Far Eastern University as it seeks its third win in as many games against last year’s Final Four tormentor University of the East this Thursday in the 73rd UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tamaraws, one of the title favorites this season, opened their campaign with two close wins, beating defending two-time champion Ateneo and National University in succession to wrest the solo lead after the league's second week.

RR Garcia has been the star in FEU's twin victories, firing 25 points in a 72-69 win over Ateneo then hit 18 points, including the go-ahead triple that eventually gave the Tamaraws a 76-72 victory over the dangerous Bulldogs.

Those feats enabled the former RP U-18 team standout to secure the first UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week.

Although Garcia and the rest of the Morayta-based squad are on top, they should still be wary of the Red Warriors in their 4 p.m. encounter.

UST and University of the Philippines collide in the curtain raiser at 2 p.m.

"Hindi pa kami kailangan mag-relax dahil nung preseason tinalo kami ng UE so siguro konting adjustments na lang gagawin namin," said coach Glenn Capacio, whose squad blew a 20-point lead in a loss to UE in the Filoil preseason tournament last April.

UE lost its first two games by an average margin of 16 points. On July 10, the Recto-based dribblers lost 70-57 to University of Santo Tomas then were handed an 82-63 drubbing by La Salle last Sunday.

Paul Lee scored 25 points in their defeat to the Green Archers but has obviously been playing hurt after suffering a hairline fracture in his right foot prior to the start of the season.