Far Eastern University (FEU) returned to the winning track, making mincemeat out of league doormats University of the Philippines (UP), 85-71, in the first game of UAAP men’s basketball Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Executing a dizzying passing game, the Tamaraws launched a 10-2 run to start the third quarter, surging to an insurmountable 56-40 lead which swelled to 26, 78-52, in the fourth quarter.

While Mike Tolomia led his team with 18 points, it was a total team effort for the FEU five fielded in the third quarter as Carl Bryan Cruz and bench skippers Ron Dennison and Alejandrino Inigo scored on easy short stabs and lay-ups off quick plays.

FEU’s bigs Cruz and Mac Belo provided the necessary defense on the other side of the court as the confused Maroons, who shot brick after brick, managed to score only a field goal in the third quarter—a Kyles Lao jumper in the nine-minute mark.

All in all, the Tamaraws issued 23 assists and shot 65 per cent from within the three-point arc. Twelve of their players dished at least an assist in the game.

“We treated this game as a very important one especially we’re coming off a loss,” said FEU head coach Nash Racela after the game.

“That’s always been the emphasis, team play,” he added. “Today they are grasping the idea to let the game come to them and not to force shots.”

The Maroons lost its fourth straight game, all of which with a losing margin of at least 11 points. They were led by JR Gallarza with 18 points and Dave Moralde with 14 points.

Box scores:

FEU 85 – Tolomia 18, Belo 12, Pogoy 11, Cruz 11, Hargrove 10, Dennison 7, Tamsi 4, Jose 4, Inigo 3, Denila 3, Delfinado 2, Ri. Escoto 0, Ru. Escoto 0, Ugsang 0, Lee Yu 0, David 0

UP 71 – Gallarza 18, Moralde 14, Lao 10, Juruena 8, Amar 7, Asilum 6, Vito 3, Gingerich 3, Reyes 2, Harris 0, Dario 0, Lim 0

Quarter scores: 28-21, 45-38, 70-46, 86-71