(article by Ma. Rachell Ann Makayan)

“Nakakagulat.”
That was the only thing that Far Eastern University Head Coach Glen Capacio could say after the Tamaraws clobbered defending champions De La Salle Green Archers, 83-75, in the 71st University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ men’s basketball competition yesterday at the PhilSports Arena.
The heroics of sophomore Andy Barroca delivered the most fatal blows to the Archers during the final quarter of the match-up. Barroca shot four consecutive baskets in the final five minutes of action while Reil Cervantes and Jens Knuttel provided him much needed assistance to help push up the Morayta-based squad to their eight win this season.
Barroca scored a career high 26 points, half of which came from the fourth canto, seven rebounds and two steals, while Cervantes finished off with 13 markers, five rebounds, a steal and an assist. Knuttel paced FEU’s scoring 11 points, four boards, seven assists and two steals.
FEU and DLSU went neck-to-neck during the first period, highlighted by four deadlocks and two leadchanges. The two teams’ airtight defense resulted to a low scoring first quarter that ended in a tie at 14.
However, the story began to change in favor of the Green and Gold shirts in the second quarter. Benedict Fernandez sparked a 12-4 run that gave the Tamaraws a sizeable eight -point lead after only two minutes of play in the second period. Another 7-2 run led by Barocca midway thru the period paced FEU to maintain their breathable lead. The first half ended with the Tams carrying a five-point lead over the Archers.
FEU’s lead seemed more insurmountable for De La Salle come third canto. The Morayta dribblers played enormously well and turned their five-point lead from the first half to a dozen two minutes left of the third quarter. Peejay Barua and Rico Maierhofer, however, trimmed down the FEU lead to eight after their late baskets in the same quarter.
Just when things look like it’ll go all the way for the Morayta-based squad, fatigue took its toll and slowed down their momentum allowing the Archers to inch closer. JV Casio shot five straight points in the seventh minute of the final period to steal the lead from FEU for the first time after the first quarter. Two deadlocks at 61-all and 63-all followed the La Salle attack.
Then Barroca shot three consecutive two-point baskets, including one that came from a Cervantes no-look pass, in the fourth minute of the final quarter. Cervantes and Knuttel quickly followed up with four more points from the shaded area to complete a 10-0 run and create a 10 point lead for FEU. La Salle committed back-to-back errors and gave the Tamaraws several trips to the freethrow line.
As if the damage he had already created wasn’t enough, Barroca fired another from beyond the arc to keep his team’s 10 point advantage. Maierhofer, however, still managed to make five more points for La Salle to trim the lead, 82-74, 10 seconds left in the clock. JR Cawaling put in the finishing touches for FEU after he parted his gift shots from a James Mangahas foul.
FEU now shares the second spot of the team standings with their latest victims with a win-loss slate of 8-3. This is also the first time that the Tamaraws defeated the Archers since the 2005 Finals, which coincidentally is the last year that the title has been to Morayta.
“Di ko inakala sa buong buhay ko na mangyayari ‘to sa ‘min,” said an ecstatic Capacio. “Nakakagulat.”
Capacio stated that he and his wards will have to think about how they could maintain their place at the second spot before thinking about the semis.
“Di na namin pinapangarap yung first (spot), we would just like to stay at the second muna because that’ll be an advantage for us,” he explained. “It’s better to be number than to be at third. Trabaho pa rin kami.”
FEU still has three more games to play. They will be facing the NU Bulldogs come this Thursday. The Tamaraws need to win at least two more games to secure a play-off for one of the two twice-to-beat advantage incentives going into the Final Four.

INDIVIDUAL SCORES:
FEU – Barroca 26, Fernandez 14, Cervantes 13, Knuttel 11, Cawaling 6, Adolfo 6, Tanuan 4, Ramos 3, Macazo 0, Alisbo 0, Sanga 0, Cabagnot 0.
DLSU – Maierhofer 18, Casio 15, Mangahas 14, Villanueva 8, Barua 7, Revilla6, Webb 4, Atkins 3, Mendoza 0, Bagatsing 0, Malabes 0, Ferdinand 0, Lee 0.
QUARTER SCORES: 14-14, 37-32, 54-47, 83-75

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August 24th, 2008 by ian.evasco Born in the old FEU Hospital Son of two FEU graduates Former EIC of The FEU Advocate ABMC Batch 2002 FEU-IAS Naks...Tamaraw na Tamaraw Talaga