Tams oust Archers, carry Bulldogs to Final Four

MANILA, Philippines -- Far Eastern U slammed the door hard on De La Salle University after eking out a a come-from-behind 71-68 win on Wednesday at the end of the double round elimination in the Smart Araneta Coliseum and set the Final Four cast in the UAAP Season 78.  

The Tamaraws' victory automatically lifted the defending champion National University Bulldogs into the Final Four with their 7-7 win-loss record.  La Salle, meanwhile, bungled its shot to enter the Final Four via backdoor after it ended its season with 6-8 card tied with the UE Red Warriors, who won against the UP Fighting Maroons, 79-67, earlier in the day. 

A win by the Archers could have set a knockout game between them and the Bulldogs, but instead, they will just be a spectator in the Final Four for the first time since 2011. 

Just like in most of their losses in the second round, the Archers, once again, imploded in the endgame, allowing the Tamaraws to claw back from a double-digit deficit, 45-57, with eight minutes left in the game. 

Roger Pogoy and Monbert Arong came off the bench to preside over in the big finishing kick by the Tamaraws and grabbed the morale-boosting win serving as momentum heading into their Final Four matchup against the no.3 seed Ateneo Blue Eagles on Saturday at 3 p.m. also at the same venue. 

The UST Growling Tigers will meet the Bulldogs in the other pairing on Sunday at the same time and venue. 

Both the Tamaraws and the Tigers hold a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. 

The Scores:

FEU 71 - Arong 13, Pogoy 11, Belo 10, Iñigo 9, Ri. Escoto 8, Orizu 5, Ru. Escoto 4, Trinidad 3, Tamsi 2, K. Holmqvist 2, Tolomia 2, S. Holmqvist 2, Comboy 0, Eboña 0.

DLSU 68 - Teng 20, Rivero 16, Torralba 8, Torres 7, Perkins 6, Muyang 5, Caracut 3, Langston 3, Gob 0.

Quarters: 22-19, 29-38, 45-54, 71-68.