No comeback for Adamson as FEU wins 9th straight

MANILA, Philippines – This time around, there was no epic comeback for the Soaring Falcons. 

Fresh off a game where they rallied from a 16-point deficit to take down the DLSU Green Archers, Adamson’s run came up short as the FEU Tamaraws managed to hold them off in the fourth period for their ninth straight victory, 82-69, on Wednesday, October 28, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tamaraws, who also led by 16 against the Soaring Falcons, improved their record in the UAAP Season 78 senior’s basketball tournament to 10-1, which puts them a win away from a securing a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four round.

Adamson dropped to 2-8 with the loss.

“We’re happy but unsatisfied,” FEU big man Russel Escoto said after the game. “Medyo kulang pa yung pagiging aggressive nang team.”

(The team still lacks aggressiveness.)

Escoto led his team in scoring with 13 points and also had 4 rebounds, while Raymar Jose put up 12 points and 7 rebounds as FEU clinched at least the right to a playoff for the number two seed.

“Happy, pero kulang yung sa defense (our defense needs improvement),” said Jose, whose Tamaraws allowed Adamson to trim the lead to 6 in the final period. “Katulad nung sinabi ni coach, hindi basta-basta kasi papunta na sa playoffs.”

(Like coach said, we can’t be relaxed entering the playoffs.)

Mac Belo finished with 10 points, while Mike Tolomia had 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists after injuring his ankle in his team’s last game against UE. RR Pogoy also had 9 points.

“We’re close to peaking. Sana (hopefully) we peak at the right time,” FEU head coach Nash Racela said post-game.

Adamson, who’s already out of the Final Four chase, was led by the 16 points of Jerome Garcia. Joseph Nalos also played well with 15 points and 5 rebounds, while rookie Frederick Tungcab accounted for 10 points and 8 boards.

Foreign student-athlete Pape Sarr, who had been filling up the stat sheets in his past games, finished with just 4 points on 1-of-6 shooting and 8 rebounds.

“Last game, he had 26 and 22 against us sa (in the) first round. Ngayon namin, binaliktad namin (this time, we turned it around). We really focused on him. We had 4, 5 guys matchup,” Racela said.

FEU looked en route to an easy win when they went ahead 66-50 to end the third period, but a 14-4 Adamson run put them back within striking distance.

Jose made two free throws to halt the bleeding, and a few possessions later after Belo split a visit to the foul line, Pogoy grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a put-back to extend his team’s lead to 75-64.

With 3:55 to go, big man Prince Orizu converted a layup to extend the Tamaraws’ lead to 78-64, which proved to be enough of a cushion to hold on to the win.

The Tamaraws shot just 37% from the field and 17% from downtown, but limited their turnovers to 14. They also did a good job distributing the ball, out-assisting Adamson 21-10.

FEU, who could also clinch a twice-to-beat edge if Ateneo loses their next game, ends the season facing 3 tough opponents in UST, NU, and DLSU.

“We’re always concerned, kasi (because) number one UST beat us in the first round. NU needs every game, and then La Salle also… If you think about it, they need to win more than we,” said Racela.

The Tamaraws will be back in action on November 7, Saturday, against UST in a possible finals rematch. Adamson will seek their third win against UE on the same day.

Scores:

FEU (82): Escoto 13, Jose 12, Belo 10, Pogoy 9, Tolomia 9, Arong 7, Inigo 7, Orizu 7, Escoto 4, Holmqvist 2, Trinidad 2, Comboy 0, Dennison 0, Ebona 0, Homqvist 0, Tamsi 0

ADU (69): Garcia 16, Nalos 15, Bernardo 10, Tungcab 10, Polican 6, Sarr 4, Villanueva 3, Capote 2, Ochea 2, Garcia 1, Camacho 0, Escalambre 0, Fernandez 0, Margallo 0

Quarter scores: 23-18, 43-33, 66-50, 82-69

– Rappler.com