FEU finishes strong to slip past UE

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Wendell Comboy spearheaded a deciding 10-2 run to end the game while Axel Iñigo buried the dagger triple as Far Eastern University survived University of the East, 64-61, in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, November 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tamaraws still have hope of gaining a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four as long as the Adamson Soaring Falcons win by at least 31 points over the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the day’s second game.

The defending champions overturned a 9-point Red Warriors lead in the fourth quarter with Comboy sparking the rally in the final 3 minutes, shoving FEU ahead 60-59 with 1:36 left.

Iñigo capped off his game-high 16-point performance with the dagger trey with 25 seconds on the clock for the 63-59 cushion. Iñigo missed just one of his 7 field goals and added 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

“I really wanted to win today,” Iñigo said in Filipino after the game. “I just thought I really wanted to shoot the ball. I felt I could shoot it.”

FEU snapped a 3-game losing skid and finished the elimination round with a 9-5 record.

Raymar Jose had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Richard Escoto also had 11. Comboy wound up with 10 markers, 5 boards, 4 dimes, and two steals.

Paul Varilla paced the Warriors with 13 points and 5 rebounds as Philip Manalang, Emil Palma, and Rey Acuno all had 8 markers apiece.

UE, which led for as much as 11 points, settled for a 3-11 record to end its season.

Scores:

FEU (64): Inigo 16, Escoto 11, Jose 11, Comboy 10, Orizu 8, Holmqvist 4, Bayquin 3, Tuffin 1, Arong 0, Bienes 0, Dennison 0, Nunag 0, Trinidad 0.

UE (61): Varilla 13, Acuno 8, Manalang 8, Palma 8, Bartolome 7, Batiller 6, Olayon 5, Abanto 2, Armenio 2, Pasaol 2, Charcos 0, Gagate 0.

Quarter scores: 11-20, 34-34, 44-53, 64-61.

– Rappler.com