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MANILA, Philippines – The FEU Tamaraws needed to wait almost an entire year, but they finally managed to get payback on the NU Bulldogs.
And they have Mike Tolomia to thank for it.
The veteran Tamaraw hit two huge 3-pointers down the stretch of the fourth quarter to help his team stave off the Bulldogs, 61-59, in a rematch of last year’s UAAP senior’s basketball finals on Wednesday, October 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mike Tolomia was the best player on the floor, finishing with 19 points plus 5 rebounds, and when the moment required a big star from FEU to step up, he took the responsibility.
The game was tied at 52 with under 3 minutes to go in the contest after Kyle Neypes converted a jumper.
On the next play, Tolomia used a screen to get open at the top of the key and drilled a 3-ball to regain the lead. After Neypes missed on a layup, Tolomia used another screen to hit another 3-pointer at the same spot, 58-52.
Alfred Aroga, who finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds to lead National U, hit a turnaround shot to keep his team alive. After Mac Belo nailed a free throw and Prince Orizu converted a follow-up dunk to put his team ahead by 7, Neypes hit a huge 3-ball to trim the deficit to 4 with 58 seconds to go.
Tolomia then missed a 3 and Alolino hit two charities to make the count 61-59. But on the next play, after the Bulldogs got a stop, a steal by Tamsi with one second left in the contest forced an NU foul. He missed both, but time had expired, giving the Bulldogs no shot at a game-winner.
“Before the game, pinagusapan namin sa dugout na (we talked at the dugout about) this is just another game that we need to play for FEU,” Tamaraws head coach Nash Racela said after the contest.
“We weren’t really thinking that we were playing the defending champions, but of course, at the end of it all, it’s a good feeling that we beat the defending champions.”
Belo finished with 9 points while Roger Pogoy scored 7.
Alolino and Neypes came up with 10 points each as NU’s 3-game winning streak was snapped, while FEU’s winning streak extended to 5 games.
“One of the positives is we’re top two,” said Racela, whose team is tied with UST atop the league standings at 6-1 after the first round of the eliminations. “That’s a positive and we welcome that. The second round will be really, really tough.”
The Bulldogs, currently ranked number 5, fall to 3-4.
NU, who was on top 34-29 at the half but was outscored 16-6 in the third quarter, shot 41% from the field but went just 9-of-20 from the charity stripe, with 8 of those misses coming in the critical final quarter.
The Tamaraws, who saw their 10-point lead early in the fourth period erased, shot 44% from the floor and 40% from long range.
The Bulldogs will be back in action against the UE Red Warriors on Saturday, October 10, while FEU will battle with Ateneo the next day on October 11.
Scores:
FEU (61): Tolomia 19, Belo 9, Pogoy 7, Escoto 5, Arong 4, Jose 4, Orizu 4, Tamsi 4, Trinidad 3, Escoto 2, Comboy 0, Ebona 0, Holmqvist 0, Holmqvist 0, Inigo 0
NU (59): Aroga 17, Alolino 10, Neypes 10, Alejandro 7, Javelona 4, Morido 4, Abatayo 3, Salim 2, Tansingco 2, Diputado 0, Javillonar 0
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