It took some time, but the Far Eastern University Tamaraws tallied their first win in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
The Tamaraws finally put themselves in the win column after quelling the gritty Adamson Soaring Falcons, 64-58, Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Mo Konateh powered the Tamaraws with a solid statline of 18 points and 21 rebounds, to go with three assists, two blocks and an assist. Kirby Mongcopa chipped in 15 markers, five boards and two dimes.
‘We’re grateful to be blessed to be in this moment. We’re grateful to be… that God put us in this place to be like an example of resilience because we could have easily already feel pretty down about ourselves,’ he said.
‘But what I liked about my guys was after the disappointing loss to La Salle, we actually worked even harder. And we know in anything in life, once you get your back against the wall, you go harder or you give up. So, I’m so proud of them,’ he added.
After leading by as much as 11 points, 56-45, with 8:09 remaining in the game after a Mongcopa deuce, the Falcons stormed back and sliced the deficit slowly.
They trailed by just three, 58-61, with 1:44 remaining after a short jumper by Ced Manzano.
But Janrey Pasaol hit the dagger triple to push the lead to six, 64-58, with 1:28 left.
On the other end, Manu Anabo and Ray Allen Torres missed their attempts that would have inched them closer.
But a steal by Pasaol, as well as another turnover by Torres, sucked the air out of Adamson’s lungs.
Pasaol contributed 13 markers, six boards, five dimes and two steals. Neil Owens produced nine points for FEU.
Monty Montebon was the only double-digit scorer for the Falcons with 14 markers and seven boards. Matty Erolon backstopped with nine points.
With FEU’s win, only the University of the East Red Warriors are the lone team without a victory thus far. The Tamaraws and the Soaring Falcons are now tied in the standings at 1-3.