With less than three seconds left in the clock, Mac Belo of the FEU Tamaraws hit a clutch three pointer to clinch a 67-64 victory that dethroned the defending champions, the DLSU Green Archers, last October 1 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Belo led his team’s return to the UAAP Finals with 23 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal, including a buzzer beater triple. Meanwhile, Jeron Teng, Jason Perkins and Arnold van Opstal led the Taft-based squad with 13, 12, and 11 points respectively.
The Green Archers took an early five point lead in the first quarter courtesy of Teng’s seven straight points. FEU immediately answered back with an 8-1 run behind the collective efforts of Anthony Hargrove, Mike Tolomia, Achie Inigo and Russel Escoto. The first quarter ended with the Tamaraws on top, 24-17.
In the second quarter, La Salle fired back with a 13-2 run highlighted by threes from Almond Vosotros and Julian Sargent to take back the lead, 30-26. Tolomia scored seven straight baskets for FEU to regain a 36-32 lead. At halftime, FEU was still on top, 42-37.
In the second half, both squads scored left and right but the Tamaraws managed to keep their lead. Rookie Prince Rivero was fouled and split his free throws to cut FEU’s lead to one, 47-46. However, FEU continued to take control of the game, ending the third quarter with a four point advantage, 51-47.
Down by four in the fourth, the Green Archers began to pick up the pace, scoring six straight points to take the lead at 53-51. Belo made two free throws to tie the game AT 53 and from then, DLSU and FEU exchanged baskets until van Opstal and Sargent scored six points to put DLSU on top 59-55. Belo continued to lead FEU late in the quarter, with his three pointer with 1:05 left swinging the lead into the Tamaraws’ favor. Perkins split his free throws and Torres made a crucial basket to tie the game at 64 with 24.4 seconds left in the game. After the timeout, Tolomia received the inbounds pass and waited till the clock reached less than ten seconds to set up Belo for a three pointer and win the game for FEU.
Teng led the Green Archers with 13 points, four rebounds, and six assists however he did not take any free throws in this game. Perkins finished with a double double of 12 points and 12 rebounds while van Opstal finished with 11 points and five rebounds. DLSU couldn’t make their free throws as they missed 14 out of their 23 chances at the line. La Salle outrebounded FEU 44-42 but the Tamaraws had more assists, 17-15.
Belo led the way for FEU with 23 points and four three pointers, with his last sending his squad into the finals. Tolomia bounced back in this game with 14 points, twice his output in the last game, and added six assists as well.
The Scores:
FEU 67 – Belo 23, Tolomia 14, Pogoy 8, Hargrove 6, Inigo 5, Jose 3, Cruz 3, Tamsi 3, Ru. Escoto 2, Ugsang 0, Ri. Escoto, 0, Dennison 0, Lee Yu 0
DLSU 64 – Teng 13, Perkins 12, van Opstal 11, Sargent 8, N. Torres 7, Rivero 7, Vosotros 6, Montalbo 0, T. Torres 0, Bolick 0
