ROGER POGOY took control during the pivotal third period to propel Far Eastern University (FEU) to a 75-70 win over National University (NU) in Game One of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 77 men’s basketball finals on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The 22-year-old Talisay, Cebu-native took advantage of the double-teams given to teammates Mac Belo and Mike Tolomia and fired 10 markers during the third period as part of his 14 points on six-for-10 shooting.
Leading the way for the Tamaraws was Mike Tolomia with 15 markers, while Achie Iñigo also contributed 12 to bring FEU within a game of being crowned as the league’s new champions.
The Bulldogs tried to pull away early in the second canto, as reserve guard Reden Celda caught fire off the bench and tallied all of his seven markers during their 15-4 spurt that resulted to a 30-18 after the first 3:59 of the quarter.
But with NU misfiring in the remaining stretch, FEU leaned on Tolomia who scored seven of his nine points in the second to pull within three at the break, 35-38.
Out of the dugout, Pogoy was a man possessed and made all but two of his six field goals after springing free from his defenders, overturning their three-point halftime deficit into a 13-point lead, 60-47, with 1:03 left in the third quarter.
But NU pulled out one last ace from their sleeve as fourth-year guard Gelo Alolino and Cameroonian center Alfred Aroga came to the rescue to combine for 14 of the team’s 20 fourth quarter points to slowly cut their deficit to come within three, 70-73, with 38.5 seconds left.
After a tough defensive stop on the FEU end, NU could not get a clear shot at the basket with Glenn Khobuntin’s well-guard trey with two seconds left and the Tamaraws sealed the final score with two more free throws.
“We just tried to go back to our strengths. If we look at the previous games, umalis kami sa strengths namin just for us to get a win and for us to get to the finals. But now against NU, we just have to go back to our strengths,” FEU Head Coach Nash Racela said.
“We just reminded them to do the right things in the second half. The reason NU was scoring in the first half was that we were giving them breakdowns. That’s why they were taking advantage. So I think I just reminded them to be disciplined and to use the right defenses,” he added.
Aroga led NU’s failed cause with 17 points and eight rebounds, Alolino contributed 14 markers and seven boards while Troy Rosario—who failed to finish the match due to cramps—chipped in 12 points and eight caroms.
Losing Coach Eric Altamirano lamented their missed free throws—including three from Aroga and Alolino that could have tied the contest.
“To sum it all up, the missed free throws did us in. We missed 16 free throws. ’Yun talaga eh. We have to address that,” Altamirano said. “More of that was mental fatigue.”
“I told the boys that their emotions got in the way. Normally, when I see them shoot their free throws, they’re focused, very relaxed, and they were not expending a lot of energy. Kanina, I felt they weren’t doing that, even Gelo [Alolino].”
Aroga led NU’s failed cause with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Alolino contributed 14 markers and seven boards, and Troy Rosario—who failed to finish the match due to cramps—chipped in 12 points and eight caroms.
Game Two is set on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, where FEU tries to snatch their first men’s hoops title since 2005.
Image credits: Alysa Salen