By Ivan Saldajeno
The UE Red Warriors spoiled the return of FEU Tamaraws coach Nash Racela from Seville, Spain and kept their UAAP Final Four hopes alive with a 94-71 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The UE Red Warriors spoiled the return of FEU Tamaraws coach Nash Racela from Seville, Spain and kept their UAAP Final Four hopes alive with a 94-71 win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Red Warriors unleashed a crucial 26-1 run in the fourth quarter behind Roi Sumang, Bong Galanza, and Charles Mammie to turn a close fight after three periods to a rout.
Galanza led the Red Warriors, who won for the third straight time and beat the Tams for the first time since 2009, with 26 points, four assists, and three steals.
Sumang, who sat out UE's last game against NU as a disciplinary action, scored all but one of his nine points in the pivotal fourth quarter rally.
Mac Belo scored 16 points off the bench for FEU, which only scored ten points in the fourth frame. Achi Inigo added ten markers.
The Red Warriors moved up to 7-5 and are now just a full game behind the NU Bulldogs for the fourth and the last Final Four spot.
The Tamaraws, on the other hand, dropped to 10-3, putting the idle Ateneo Blue Eagles into a tie for first place.
Box Scores:
UE 94-Galanza 26, Mammie 18, Alberto 10, De Leon 9, Sumang 9, Javier 7, Varilla 5, Olayon 2, Arafat 2, Jumao-as 2, Palma 2, Hernandez 2, Guiang 0, Charcos 0, Cudal 0
FEU 71-Belo 16, Inigo 10, Tolomia 9, Hargrove 9, Cruz 8, Tamsi 6, Pogoy 5, Ugsang 5, Jose 3, Ri. Escoto 0, Lee Yu 0, Denila 0, David 0, Delfinado 0
Quarterscores: 21-17, 44-37, 64-61, 94-71
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