Photo by Vyn Radovan/FCF
GAMES SATURDAY (SEPTEMBER 24, 2011)
ARANETA COLISEUM
9:00am – Women’s Finals (Game 1)
11:00am – Juniors Finals (Game 1)
3:00pm – Ateneo vs. Far Eastern (Men’s – Game 1)
Unheralded Far Eastern University pulled the rug underneath an upstart Adamson University in a do-or-die Final Four showdown on Sunday in the 74th University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Mike Tolomia produced 19 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 steals in the Tamaraws’ 78-74 clincher to move on to the finals of the men’s basketball tournament where first-placed Ateneo de Manila University are waiting on the wings.
Terrence Romeo produced 15 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, including the game-clinching free throws that extended their lead to four with exactly 4 ticks on the clock remaining.
(Vyn Radovan/FCF)
RR Garcia totalled 11 points and 6 rebounds before fouling out, while big men Russel Escoto and Aldrech Ramos each piled up 10 points apiece.
With the Green and Gold already pulling away via an 11 point lead late in the fourth quarter, graduating Falcons combo guard Jerick Cañada unleashed a 10 point flurry, part of his team high total of 14 points in the ballgame, during a one minute span to bring down their deficit to just five.
However, the Tamaraws shaved away a good 40 seconds off the clock in a series of second and third chance opportunities that culminated in Romeo’s game clinching trip to the 15 foot line. In that sequence, the Tamaraws retrieved the ball four times and grabbed three offensive rebounds in the process.
Best sixth man candidate Eric Camson uncorked a near triple double effort of 13 points and 9 rebounds, while Alex Nuyles played through an ankle injury to produce 12 points and 4 assists in their season’s curtain call.
The Morayta-based Tams will face the Blue Eagles for just the third time in their history, with the first meeting being a two-game sweep in 2003. Last year, the Katipunan Blues turned the same trick in their favor to extend their championship streak to three.
BOX SCORES
FAR EASTERN (78): Tolomia 19, Romeo 15, Garcia 11, Escoto 10, Ramos 10, Cruz 8, Exciminiano 5, Pogoy 0, Bringas 0, Knuttel 0
ADAMSON (74): Cañada 14, Camson 13, Nuyles 12, Lozada 9, Alvarez 9, Colina 8, Manyara 4, Petilos 3, Brondial 2, Cabrera 0
Quarters: 18-14, 33-35, 57-50, 78-74
