By Ricky Manliguis
SAN JUAN—Far Eastern U-Diliman continued its mastery over
Nazareth School of National University as it hacked out a nail-biting 66-65 win
and take Game 1 of the UAAP LXXIX juniors basketball finals at the
FilOil-Flying V Centre Tuesday, Feb. 21.
The boys from Diliman built a comfortbale lead at halftime
but had to survive a late charge from the defending champions in the final
moments to issue the victory, the second against NU this season.
NU battled back in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit
to just three, 63-66. After a wild wind-up on the next three possesions,
Winderlich Coyoca and Rhayyan Amsali sealed the Bullpups’ downfall with three missed
charities.
Big man Kenji Roman came alive in the second half, scoring
six of his 12 points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. He also had
eight rebounds.
Xyrus Torres, who connived with LJ Gonzales in a telling
22-9 opening-quarter assault, finished with 10 points. Gonzales flirted with a
triple-double, producing 10 assists, 10 rebounds, and seven markers.
John Lloyd Clemente carried the scoring load for NU, fashioning
a game-high 25 points on 9-of-22 shooting from the field. Coyoca and Amsali accounted for 11 and 10
points, respectively.
FEU will gun for its first title since 2013 in Game 2 scheduled Friday also at the Arena. A
sudden-death Game 3, if necessary, will be on Monday next week.
The scores:
FEU-Diliman 66—Roman 12, Torres 10, Sapinit 9, Celzo 8,
Abarrientos 8, Gonzales 7, Gabane 5, Jabel 2, Bieren 2, Baclay 2, Gloria 1,
Mariano 0.
NU 65—Clemente 25, Coyoca 11, Amsali 10, Peñano 9, Sarip 5,
Manalang 3, Malonzo 2, Tolentino 0, Peralta 0, Fortea 0, Callejo 0, Atienza 0.
Quarter scores: 24-20, 43-34, 57-52, 66-65.
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