Tams trounce Bulldogs for joint 2nd

Games tomorrow

11:15 p.m. – UST vs JRU

1:30 p.m. – FEU vs Mapua

3:15 p.m. – UP vs Adamson

5 p.m. – San Beda vs La Salle

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U held sway in the fourth quarter as it repulsed National U, 88-77, yesterday to gain a share of the Group B lead with University of the Philippines in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

The Toronto, Canada-born RJ Ramirez fired game-high 15 points, including key baskets and defensive stops in the final period to help propel the Tams to their third win in row.

Unlike in their first two wins over St. Benilde and Arellano U where they blew double-digit leads and won by a single digit, the Tams showed poise down the stretch to turn back the Bulldogs and keep their win run going.

“Obviously, there was more focus now, that’s what I want from my boys to show improvement every game,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela.

Ramirez, meanwhile, said he wanted to dedicate the win to his late mom Virginia, who hailed from Cavite.

“I’m doing this for my mother who passed away two years ago. That’s why I’m here to play basketball and possibly go to the next level,” said Ramirez.

But FEU suffered a casualty as Hubert Cani tweaked his ankle midway in the last quarter.

The loss was the Bulldogs’ second against three wins.

Earlier, Emilio Aguinaldo College bucked the absence of Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou as it downed St. Benilde, 78-70, to improve to 2-3.

Jerome Garcia and Francis Munsayac fired 20 and 13 points, respectively, while Fil-Nigerian Sydney Onwubere powered his way to 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks to help fill the void left by the 6-10 Laminou, who sat out due to knee issues.

The Blazers fell to their fifth straight defeat against a win.

Later in the day, Jose Rizal U downed Perpetual Help, 70-56, to nail its fourth win in five outings.

The scores:

First Game

EAC 78 – Garcia 20, Munsayac 13, Onwubere 12, Bautista 10, Bugarin 8, Guzman 8, Diego 4, Mendoza I. 3, Pascua 0, Mendoza J. 0, Gonzales 0, Mendoza N. 0, Corilla 0, Tampoc 0, Altiche 0.

CSB 70 – Leutcheu 21, Dixon 11, Sta. Maria 8, Bunyi 8, San Juan 6, Castor 5, Naboa 5, Pili 4, Suarez 2, Domingo 0, Young 0 Velasco 0, Mercado 0.

Quarterscores: 25-17, 42-31, 59-51, 78-70

Second Game

FEU 88 – Ramirez 15, Dennison 12, Tolentino 12, Cani 9, Bienes 8, Escoto 8, Orizu 8, Comboy 7, Tuffin 4, Inigo 3, Parker 2, Ebona 0. Trinidad 0, Bayquin 0

NU 77 – Gaye 14, Morido 12, Alejandro 11, Salem 11, Tibayan 9, Bartlett 4, Yu 4, Diputado 4, Aquino 2, Rangel 2, Lastimosa 2, Mosqueda 2, Abatayo 0, Galvelo 0

Quarterscores: 26-all, 46-45, 67-62, 88-77

Third Game

JRU 70 – Teodoro 19, Grospe 12, Estrella 9, Poutouochi 9, dela Virgen 8, Lasquety 4, Abdulwahab 4, Sawat 4, Mendoza 1, Mate 0, Mariano 0, Bordon 0

Perpetual Help 56 – Ylagan 13, Eze 8, Dagangon 7, Singontiko 7, Coronel 6, Pido 4, Sadiwa 4, Lucente 4, Clemente 2, Mangalino 1, Yuhico 0

Quarterscores: 15-8, 32-29, 51-42, 70-56