Adrian Wong raced across the court in the dying seconds of the ADMU Blue Eagles’ semifinal match against the FEU Tamaraws with the score tied at 74. Wong, who had already hit several big shots in the final quarter, soared towards the basket but misses his lay-up.

Chaos then ensued as Mike Tolomia secured the ball and raced the length of the court, stampeding with his fellow Tamaraws. Tolomia attacked from the right end and soared to the left for a lay-up but missed. Right in the nick of time, however, Mac Belo came swooping in and tossed the ball into the basket as time expired to give the Tamaraws a 76-74 victory and a ticket to the UAAP finals for the second consecutive season.

It was also a buzzer beater from Belo that sent FEU to the finals last year as he hit a three pointer as time expired to eliminate the DLSU Green Archers in UAAP Season 77.

This was the culmination of a classic fourth quarter that saw the Blue Eagles race back from a six point deficit to start the final period to take a three point lead in the last two minutes. Rookie guard Adrian Wong and newly minted back-to-back UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena brought the Blue Eagles back into the game, but they ran out of gas in the end.

Roger Pogoy tied the game at 74 with a three from the right wing with a minute and seven seconds left to play. He then stole the ball back with over 30 seconds left to play, but the Tamaraws were unable to convert a basket. Wong then had his chance and missed, before Belo sealed the win for FEU.

Pogoy led the Tamaraws with 16 points, two rebounds, and two three pointers while Belo racked up 15 points and nine rebounds. Mike Tolomia missed eight of his 12 field goal attempts, but still wound up with 13 points.

Ateneo was led by their dynamic veteran duo of Ravena and Von Pessumal who scored 25 and 15 points, respectively, in their last game as Blue Eagles. Wong, meanwhile, came off the bench and finished with 17 points, seven of which came in the last period.

File photo by Martin San Diego