Mga laro sa Miyerkoles:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
8 a.m. – FEU-D vs DLSZ (JHS)
10 a.m. – FEU vs DLSU (Women)
12 noon – NU vs UST (Women)
3:30 p.m. – FEU vs DLSU (Men)
6:30 p.m. – NU vs UST (Men)

SUMANDAL ang Far Eastern University sa malakas na first quarter upang pataubin ang University of the East, 59-51, at palakasin ang kanilang Final Four hopes sa UAAP men’s basketball tournament kahapon sa UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.

Nahigitan na ng Tamaraws, 3-1 na sa second round, ang kanilang three-win total noong nakaraang season makaraang iangat ang kanilang record sa 4-7 overall.

Ang panalo ng FEU ay nagbigay rin sa defending champion La Salle ng twice-to-beat slot sa Final Four. Umaasa ang Tamaraws na masundan ang panalong ito kontra Red Warriors laban sa Green Archers sa Miyerkoles.

“Pagkatapos nga ng first round sabi ni coach Sean (Chambers) mag-iiba kami sa second round, na mas magiging hungry kami sa wins. Proud na proud ako sa team namin kasi sa practice pa lang work hard na talaga kami and disciplined,” sabi ni rookie sensation Veejay Pre, na kumamada ng 20 points at 8 rebounds upang sundan ang kanyang career-high 31 points sa 70-79 loss sa University of Santo Tomas.

Naibalik ang kanilang defensive identity, binigo ng National University ang pagnanais ng University of the Philippines na kunin ang nalalabing twice-to-beat berth sa Final Four habang napanatili ang maliit na pag-asang makausad sa susunod na round sa 67-47 panalo sa ikalawang laro.

Ito rin ang unang panalo ng Bulldogs kontra Fighting Maroons magmula noong Oct. 12, 2022, 80-75, na tumapos sa five-game losing skid laban sa tropa ni coach Dondon Monteverde.

UP had its worst scoring performance since dropping a 49-51 decision to FEU on Sept. 25, 2016. The 30 turnovers it committed is the most for since coach Goldwin Monteverde took over in 2022.

“Finally nakuha namin yung panalo namin sa second round. Finally at least, nabuhay lahat ng mga player ko kahit papaano they deloivered kung ano yung kailangan naming gawin then they really enjoyed kung ano yung ginagawa namin talaga,” said coach Jeff Napa after NU moved in a tie with Ateneo at 3-8, two games out of the No. 4 spot.

UE, which scored a season-low 37 points against Adamson, struggled offensively for the second straight game and only picked up in the fourth quarter before its last-gasp rally fell short.

The Red Warriors, who lost three of the last four games after an impressive 5-2 first round, are now just ahead by a game over the fourth-running Growling Tigers (5-6).

“This is what I felt we’re going to be in the second round. This is the team I expect from us. We’ve been practicing so amazingly the past two weeks,” said Chambers. “Unfortunately, and I don’t want to make an excuse but this is an excuse, we all came down with an illness the game for UST.”

Now tied with the Falcons at 4-7, the Tamaraws are a game behind the Growling Tigers in the race for the No. 4 spot.

Iskor:
FEU (59) – Pre 20, Bautista 12, Alforque 9, Pasaol 7, Añonuevo 5, Daa 3, Konateh 3, Montemayor 0, Ona 0, Nakai 0.
UE (51) – Momowei 18, Maga 12, Abate 7, Lingolingo 5, J. Cruz-Dumont 4, Fikes 3, Mulingtapang 2, Wilson 0, Galang 0, H. Cruz-Dumont 0.
Quarterscores: 23-9, 34-20, 47-34, 59-51

NU (67) – Yu 17, Figueroa 11, Palacielo 9, Santiago 8, Lim 5, Manansala 4, Perciano 4, Tulabut 4, Jumamoy 3, Garcia 2, Padrones 0, Parks 0, Enriquez 0, Francisco 0.
UP (47) – Torculas 13, Cagulangan 8, Millora-Brown 4, Briones 4, Fortea 3, Torres 3, Abadiano 2, Bayla 2, Belmonte 2, Lopez 2, Stevens 2, Alarcon 2, Ududo 0, Alter 0.
Quarterscores: 24-8, 34-20, 55-31, 67-47