Tams thwart Archers

MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern University turned back La Salle, 66-55, Wednesday in the 82nd UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Wendell Comboy delivered the daggers for the Tamaraws as he fired five of the last seven points to finish with 11 points, on a 3-of-9 clip from threes, while also grabbing two rebounds.

Cameroonian big man Patrick Tchuente also tallied a double-double of 19 points, 11 boards and three blocks to level FEU's record to 2-2.

"I'm just proud of the way we played today coming off that loss to Ateneo," said coach Olsen Racela. "It just showed yung competition this season is so balanced. Lahat ng teams are capable of winning any given moment."

FEU lost hold of a 14-point lead, 38-24, early in the third quarter and saw La Salle get to within six, 56-50, with 6:14 remaining, but Comboy anchored the Tamaraws' 10-3 blast to bring the lead back up to 11, 64-53 with 1:35 to play and cruise to the victory.

Brandrey Bienes added nine points and six rebounds, while Barkley Ebona chimed in eight points and six boards for FEU.

It was the second straight defeat for La Salle to drop to a 2-2 record.

Jamie Malonzo led the Green Archers with 20 points, 15 rebounds and three assists in the defeat.

The scores:

FEU 66 – Tchuente 19, Comboy 11, Bienes 9, Ebona 8, Alforque 7, Gonzales 5, Tuffin 4, Torres 3, Cani 0, Nunag 0, Stockton 0.

LA SALLE 55 – Malonzo 20, Caracut 10, Baltazar 6, Serrano 6, Melecio 5, Bates 2, Lojera 2, Meeker 2, Pado 2, Manuel 0.

Quartersores: 19-14, 36-24, 49-43, 66-55.