By Julian Reyes
SAN JUAN, MM–The Tamaraws gored the Stags!
Reigning UAAP champions Far Easter University proved the characteristic of its team moniker Tamaraws for being more powerful and stronger than stags as it mauled San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 77-64, for their first win in the 2016 FilOil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup at FilOil Flying V Centre on Wednesday.
Fresh from taking the UAAP hoops crown back to Morayta, the Tamaraws, despite being an entirely different crew as it was last year, proved to be too much to handle for the Golden Stags, who scored only seven points after the first frame, to take the victory.
Monebert Arong filled the spot left by the Senior Tamaraws as he paced FEU’s scoring with 19 points on a 6-of-10 shooting and five rebounds.
Big man Steve Holmqvist and Joe Trinidad also provided the needed help for FEU as they tallied an identical 11 points apiece.
Despite the 13-point victory over San Sebastian, FEU’s head coach Nash Racela still insisted frustration the way his team played in the game.
“We had too many turnovers. In the first half we had 19 then we finished the game with 35. We need to put importance in protecting the ball. In playing against pressing teams like La Salle, Adamson, UST, we’d be losing by 25,” told Racela.
The FEU came out of the game swinging, burying the Stags early to take a 12-point lead, 19-7, after the first frame.
San Sebastian was able to recover from a slow start as its ball pressure against the Tamaraws’ offense finally clicked, forcing the latter to commit several turnovers which it took advantage with to close the gap to three, 26-29, before the break.
The Stags tasted their only lead in the game, 39-37, midway in the third frame when Regile Ilagan stole the ball from an FEU’s inbound and found his open teammate Dale Miguel who converted a layup to cap his team’s quick run.
After losing the lead, the Tamaraws quickly turned the tables on as it never let the Stags come close again with its score to secure the victory.
Ryan Costelo led San Sebastian with 15 points but lack of support and extra passes from his teammates cost them the match.
Box Scores:
FEU 77–Arong 16, S. Holmqvist. 11, Trinidad 11, Denila 9, Ebona 5, Nunag 5, Tuffin 4, Nebedum 4, K. Holmqvist 4, Lee Yu 4, Comboy 2, Dennison 2, Roxas 0, Bienes 0
San Sebastian 64–Costelo 15, Calisaan 13, David 9, Valdez 9, Gayosa 8, Miguel 4, Mercado 2, Fabian 2, Capobres 2, Ilagan 0, Johnson 0, Baetiong 0, Bulanadi 0, Serajosef 0
Quarterscores: 19-7, 29-26, 55-46, 77-64
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