RYAN Roose Garcia dished out 16 markers and grabbed two boards as Far Eastern University is about to sweep the first round of the 73d UAAP men’s basketball eliminations at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City Sunday.
Garcia poured in half of the Tamaraws’16-point output in the fourth quarter to waylay a determined Adamson University, 74-65.
The 20-year-old former RP youth standout made crucial goals including an open shot with 48.4 ticks left in the game, 74-63.
Smart Gilas member Aldrech Ramos and Cameroonian forward Pippo Noundou contributed 13 and 11 points, respectively for the Morayta-based squad’s campaign.
MANILA. Far Eastern University roars to its sixth straight win in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament.
Adamson trimmed the lead to seven, 58-51, at the start of the fourth quarter courtesy of Camson but Garcia and Chris Exciminiano made back-to-back fast breaks to shock the San Marcelino-based quintet.
“Lahat naka-focus sa akin kaya pag may pagkakataon, ipinapasa ko na lang sa mga teammates ko. Basta kung sino may magandang nilalaro sa amin, sinusuportahan ko sila,” Garcia told reporters.
FEU last made a sweep of the first round in 2005, the year when the Tamaraws had their last taste of the championship crown.
“Of course I’m happy. I’m proud of the boys. Nagtutulungan talaga sila sa offense at defense. Di lang ako gaano kasaya yung sa end-game kasi ang dami naming turnovers. I told them na walang blowout win dito sa UAAP dahil nagkakatalo sa end game lagi. Doon talaga naming kinontrol ang game sa defense,” said coach Glenn Capacio.
Adamson last won against FEU in July 28, 2002 in a 76-49 demolition.
La Salle shocks UST
Meantime, it needs equally potent and young gunners of De La Salle to stop the scorching end game spurt of University of Santo Tomas, which held an early distinction of unleashing the most triples in a single game.
The Green Archers survived the late game heroics of diminutive Clark Bautista and bigman Chris Camus to enlist their fourth win against two losses.
De La Salle earlier erected a 19-point lead in third quarter, 41-22, but Bautista and Camus teamed up to man UST’s offense and moved closer at 49-53 in less than five minutes in the payoff period.
But the Green Archers were eager enough to defend the basket as bigmen Yutien Andrada, Mark Mendoza made successive goals while Maui Villanueva split his charities in two occasions to lift the Taft-based squad at a comfortable 61-51 with 34.9 seconds left.
“We have to play defense especially above the three-point area. As we all know, UST loves the three-point paint. Anyway, I’m happy that the team had the composure, and luckily we made some stops. The credit goes to the rookies Luigi de la Paz and Almond Vosotros, as well as to the three big men,” said mentor Dindo Pumaren.
Pumaren also shared that their overtime loss to FEU last Thursday served as their spring board to stay in the hunt.
“We have to take the positive things. We have to forget what happened, forget the 2 OTs (overtimes). We cannot afford to execute games just on the half court. Anyway, I’m very happy. Everybody played well. The most important thing here is, we have to compete,” he said.
The Growling Tigers dropped to solo fifth with an even 3-3 (win-loss) card as they matched their lowest game output in five years, 53-66, against the University of the East in August 21, 2005.
The Scores
First Game:
FEU (74) – Garcia 16, Ramos 13, Noundou 11, Knuttel 10, Exciminiano 8, Cervantes 6, Cawaling 5, Romeo 3, Cruz 2, Mendoza 0, Bringas 0, Sanga 0.
Adamson (65)- Nuyles 23, Canada 11, Camson 8, Alvarez 7, Colina 4, Cabrera 4, Stinnett 4, Manyara 2, Lozada 2, Basillio 2, Etrone 0, Galinato 0.
Second Game:
La Salle (61) – Mendoza 12, Vosotros 8, Dela Paz 8, Villanueva 8, Atkins 7, Tolentino 6, Andrada 6, Tampus 2, Paredes 2, Marata 2, Webb 0, Ferdinand 0.
UST (53)- Bautista 18, Camus 13, Mariano 8, Afuang 6, Pe 4, Teng 2, Fortuna 2, Daquioag 0, Marquez 0, Aytona 0.
Team Standings
Far Eastern University 6-0
Adamson University 4-2
De La Salle University 4-2
Ateneo de Manila University 3-2
University of Santo Tomas 3-3
National University 2-4
University of the East 1-4
University of the Philippines 0-5
Games Thursday (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. – Adamson vs. UE
4 p.m. – Ateneo vs. UP
(Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)