Basketball
FEU cruises to 26-point win over UE
InterAKTV/Roy Afable
After three close games that went down the wire, FEU finally stormed to its first easy win as the Tamaraws crushed the UE Red Warriors, 92-66, in Season 75 action of the UAAP Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Red Warriors started the game strong, running out to an early 18-9 lead in the first quarter behind a strong rebounding effort and the play of young stars Roi Sumang and Chris Javier.
But FEU countered with a big 15-0 run that bridged the first and second quarters. The Tamaraws then finished the first half strong, mounting a 12-3 run to grab a comfortable 42-29 lead at the break.
FEU outscored UE 28-11 in a lopsided second quarter.
UE fought back early in the third, coming back to within single digits. But FEU made another run, behind the strong effort of Arvie Bringas.
The forward scored five straight points on a basket and a three-point play midway through the third, and finished strong with a layup and a pair of splits from the line to finish with nine of his 11 points in the quarter as the Tams led 61-47 after three quarters.
The veteran Tamaraws then took over in the final period as they pushed their lead to over 20 points before cruising to the win.
“Going to the next game, NU, sila number one sa rebounds. Kaya itong game na ito, tina-try namin na control the boards. First quarter di namin na-control yung boards eh,” said FEU coach Bert Flores. “Kaya nung second, third tsaka fourth, sa huddle, sabi naming kailangan i-improve yung rebound natin.”
FEU outrebounded UE, 26-13, in the second half, including a 12-4 edge in offensive rebounding.
“Okay yung pinakita ng team. Okay kami ni Terrence (Romeo), nagpapasahan kami,” said FEU guard RR Garcia. “Yun nga lang nung first quarter, masyado kaming relaxed.”
“Bandang second half, maganda na yung samahan nung team.”
Romeo and Garcia led FEU with 19 points and 18, respectively, while each posting a game-high eight assists. Bringas and fellow big man Anthony Hargrove finished with 11 points each.
Javier finished with 20 points and nine rebounds for UE while Sumang scored 16 points.
The scores:
FEU (92) – Romeo 19, Garcia 18, Hargrove 11, A. Bringas 11, Mendoza 8, Tolomia 6, Escoto 5, Pogoy 4, Cruz 4, Sentcheu 2, Inigo 2, Jose 2, Gurrero 0, M. Bringas 0.
UE (66) – Javier 20, Sumang 16, Sumido 10, Galanza 5, Olayon 4, Hernandez 4, Belleze 2, Valdez 2, Duran 2, Flores 1, Alberto 0, Villarias 0, Santos 0, Razon 0.
Quarterscores: 14-18, 42-29, 61-47, 92-66.
