Game 2 (Friday)

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)

4 p.m. – FEU-D vs AdU

FAR Eastern University-Diliman buckled down to work in the second half built around a no-nonsense defense en route to downing Adamson, 85-74, Tuesday to move within a win of grabbing the UAAP high school boys’ basketball crown at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Baby Tams trailed by 11 points in the first half but FEU lightened its defense in the last two periods by holding the Baby Falcons down to only nine field goals to claim the front end of their best-of-three championship opener.

Whether Adamson lives another day or FEU walks away with the crown will be known at 4 p.m. on Friday over at the same venue.

It was VJ Pre’s lay-up off a John Rey Pasaol assist that shoved FEU-Diliman up at 58-57 with 1:21 left in the third period.

A see-saw game ensued from there until Kirby Mongcopa hit a trey for an FEU-Diliman edge at 69-59 with 6:29 left in the game and the Baby Tams never looked back from there.

“Yung first na nilaro namin, hindi pang-playoffs eh. Yun ang sinabi ko sa kanila sa halftime na maglaro kami na pang-playoff. Feeling ko ramdam nila yung panalo nila noong Final Four,” said Baby Tamaraws coach Allan Albano.

“Mabuti na lang at nag-respond yung mga players sa second half. They did their best na manalo rito pero hindi pa rin ako satisfied as a playoff game or championship game. Yung intensity nila kulang,” he added.

Mongcopa, who had a solid 20-point outing to go along with eight assists, knows so well that Adamson will strive to come back stronger and better in Game 2.

“Itong panalo ngayon, hindi pa rin kami dapat makuntento. Kailangang gumawa ng paraan para next game, para makuha ang dapat,” said Mongcopa.

Luke Felipe had 14 points, five boards and two steals, Pasaol and Jedric Daa each had 13 points while Dwyne Miranda chipped in 10 points, eight boards, and two assists for FEU-Diliman. Pre also had 10 rebounds.

It was the first time the Baby Tamaraws beat the Baby Falcons in three meetings this season.

Peter Rosillo led Adamson with 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists while Carlo Bonzalida, who had a no-relief job in the second half, had 18 points and 13 rebounds.

        The scores:

        FEU-D (85) — Mongcopa 20, Felipe 14, Pasaol 13, Daa 13, Miranda 10, Pre 8, Cabonilas 7, Salangsang 0, Bautista 0, Pascual 0.

        AdU (74) — Rosillo 19, Bonzalida 18, Reyes 15, Edding 9, Medina 6, Abayon 3, Garcia 2, Mepaña 2, Sajili 0.

        Quarterscores: 25-23, 39-50, 60-59, 85-74