Tentative Tams fend off hard-fighting Maroons

MANILA, Philippines – It was no rampaging romp but the Far Eastern U Tamaraws got the job done nonetheless, beating a tough-fighting  University of the Philippines, 75-69, to gain at least a playoff for a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tourney Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Hardly showing the stuff of a league-leader, the Tams couldn't shake the pesky Maroons off until the last two minutes, banking on the end game heroics of point guard Achie Iñigo to pick up their sixth straight win and 9-2 overall.

“Masaya pero parang may kulang. Marami pa talaga kaming dapat gawin,” said assistant coach Eric Gonzales, filling in for coach Nash Racela who is with Gilas Pilipinas in Spain.

Gonzales, who called the shots for the first time since handling National U in 2010, echoed Racela’s previous complaints about the Tams’ “inconsistent ways.”

“I keep on reminding the players: ito ang pinakanakakatakot na game. From Day One, napansin namin ni Coach Nash na nakapaka-inconsistent nila. Pag mahina ang kalaban, yung players nagre-relax, pag kalaban, La Salle or top teams, kahit hindi mo na kailangang i-motivate, nagpapakamatay. So thankful ako na nanalo,” said Gonzales.

Assuming the prime quarterbacking chores with Mike Tolomia in foul trouble and eventually fouling out with 3:12 left, Iñigo rose to the occasion and bailed FEU out of possible embarrassment. He banked in a big-time triple to give the Tams a 71-69 lead and spark a 7-0 windup that settled the outcome.

“Tsamba lang,” said Iñigo of his second triple connection for the day. “Sa isip ko lang, kung ma-shoot yun, para sa amin talaga yung game eh. Crucial yun dahil lumamang kami.”

Iñigo finished with eight markers to back up Tolomia’s 19 and Mac Belo’s 14 and actually did more as he grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to go with three assists and two steals.

“He’s very responsible and coachable at the same time, magaling na siya dumepensa,” said Gonzales of  Iñigo. “He’s a major player for us, not so much his shooting but how he orchestrate the team.”

Gonzales won the first of two assignments as pinch-hitter for Racela. He next plays win-less Adamson.

“Sabi ko kay Coach Nash, tol, iniwan mo ako sa sitwasyon na mawawalan ako ng career. Akala ng lahat, UP mahina. Lahat ng kakalabanin nila sa susunod, maniwala kayo dikit yan. Kailangang respetuhin yan, pag hindi, may paglalagyan ang kalaban. So coming to (game against ) Adamson, pag hindi pa natuto ang mga players, ewan ko na lang,” he said.

JR Gallarza paced UP (1-10) with 18 points spiked by four treys while Mikee Reyes added 14 and Diego Dario had 10, topped off by a triple that put the Maroons on top, 69-68, at the 2:00 mark.