UE guard Dan Alberto fires a shot over Ateneo forward Von Pessumal in their UAAP Season 76 match on Wednesday. (Vyn Radovan / FCF)

A year ago, then-season hosts National University stopped Far Eastern University’s win streak at four games. But with the same opportunity arising a year later, the charging Tamaraws could not be stopped, as they outlasted the Bulldogs, 87-83, in Wednesday’s main UAAP Season 76 match at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Very simple. I always say it’s how you finish. We started really nice, but we didn’t finish well,” said FEU head coach Nash Racela following the contest. “We should learn from this. (The team) can’t be satisfied.”

NU made a spirited comeback in the final 10 minutes, led by the combined 25 points of Bobby Ray Parks and Jean Mbe, despite going down by 20 at the end of three quarters to completely outscore their counterparts from Morayta, 35-19. But their run fell short on their “home court,” as Terrence Romeo completed a crucial layup with 26.5 ticks left to extend their dwindling lead to six, 84-78, and complete a dominant wire-to-wire victory.

Romeo led the Tams with 24 points and five assists. Carl Cruz added 13 points, while Gryann Mendoza finished with 10.

FEU extends their best start since their ill-fated Season 73 campaign, where they swept all seven of their first round assignments before falling to Adamson in the first game of the second round.

Mammie returns, Red Warriors escape Blue Eagles’ claws

Behind the dominant performance of Charles Mammie, who returned from a one-game suspension, the Red Warriors , University of the East got back on the winning track as they edged out Ateneo de Manila University, 72-68, in the day’s first game.

The Sierra Leonian transferee from Arellano University scored 20 points with 20 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards in the ballgame. Roi Sumang and surprise bench mob member Dan Alberto each had 14 points.

“We have to learn from the champions. (Ateneo) can’t be five-time champions for nothing,” said UE head coach Boycie Zamar following their win. “We learned so much from them after this game.”

In the tight contest decided in the final five minutes, the upstart UE five outscored the Blue Eagles, 6-1, in the final 1:14 owing to the key baskets and plays made by JM Noble, Sumang, and Mammie down that stretch.

On the defensive end, Lord Casajeros made Ateneo’s scorers miserable, forcing the blue and white shirts to put up four jittery attempts at the hoop in the final 17.2 ticks on the clock.

Juami Tiongson led the way for the Katipunan Avenue-based squad, finishing with 17 points on 5-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc before fouling out. Von Pessumal added 12 points, while Kiefer Ravena tallied 11.