MANILA – University of the East Red Warriors relied on a huge fourth quarter rampage to defeat Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 65-58, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball on Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Precious Momowei led the way with double-double 15 points and 17 rebounds, while fellow rookie Gjerard Wilson added 15 markers as the Red Warriors improved to 2-1 win-loss slate.
The Tamaraws were ahead at 50-36 late in the third quarter before the Red Warriors scored 22 unanswered points, with Wilson making 12 of those, to turn the game around and give his team a 58-50 advantage with 3:11 left in the game.
Mo Faty then slammed an alley-oop off Patrick Sleat at the 2:52 mark for the Tamaraws’ first points in the final quarter, but Momowei and JM Tulabut produced the much-needed separation baskets for the Red Warriors.
“We held down FEU especially in the fourth, we scored 25 points to eight points of FEU. I’ll give this game to our second group because I think they did their job. We scored 30 bench points,” said Red Warriors head coach Jack Santiago.
Ljay Gonzales had 16 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals in the losing cause. Faty added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jorick Bautista netted 11 points as the Tamaraws dropped to 0-3.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons maintained their unbeaten record after a 78-60 triumph over the National University Bulldogs. The Fighting Maroons improved to 3-0, while the Bulldogs dropped to 2-1.
Trailing by as much as nine points early in the first half, the Fighting Maroons turned things around in the second period behind Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano and Ernest Felicilda to take a 30-25 lead at the half.
The Bulldogs kept it close early in the third period as they took a slim 35-34 lead, but Bacolodnon Harold Alarcon anchored the Fighting Maroons’ breakaway as they established an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Francis Lopez top-scored for the Fighting Maroons with 14 points, Maodo Malick Diouf added double-double 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Crispin John Cansino and Alarcon ended with 12 and 10 points, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
UE 65 – Wilson 15, Momowei 15, Remogat 8, Tulabut 7, Sawat 6, Cruz-Dumont 6, Lingolingo 5, Galang 3, Fikes 0, Alcantara 0, Langit 0.
FEU 58 – Gonzales 16, Faty 12, Bautista 11, Añonuevo 6, Torres 5, Tempra 4, Alforque 2, Sleat 2, Bagunu 0, Ona 0, Competente 0, Montemayor 0, Felipe 0.
Quarterscores: 16-20, 29-39, 40-50, 65-58.
