FEU trips Ateneo in overtime

Published: July 4, 2013

La Salle’s Jeron Teng tries to shoot against the outstretched hand of University of the Philippines’ Chris Ball during their UAAP game yesterday. La Salle won, 96-84. (Bob Dungo Jr.)
Games Saturday

(Smart Araneta Colisum)

2 p.m. – UST vs Adamson

4 p.m. – NU vs UE

Far Eastern University exploited the absence of do-it-all Kiefer Ravena to end almost three years of pain against defending five-time champion Ateneo, hacking out a 79-75 overtime victory in the 76th UAAP basketball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Veteran Roger Pogoy rose to the occasion as he gave the Tamaraws a 77-75 after swiping a rebound try by Ryan Buenafe with 22.1 seconds remaining in the extra five-minute period. That helped the Tamaraws notch their second win in as many outings and take the early lead.

Terrence Romeo had a horrible 4-of-13 shooting from the field and but still finished with 21 points, including a huge trey in extra five minutes. He also had nine rebounds, three assists and three steals as the Morayta-based squad defeated Ateneo for the first time since a 74-72 win on Sept. 11, 2010.

Incidentally, it was a true blue Atenean who guided the Tamaraws to victory.

But for coach Nash Racela, he was just doing his job and nothing else.

Ateneo Fil-Am Chris Newsome leveled the game at 66-all on two freethrows with 10.7 seconds left in regulation. But the Eagles failed to capitalize from there, falling to 0-2 for the first time since 2003.

Ravena did not play for the Eagles as he is out indefinitely with a right ankle injury. He sat on the bench in street clothes and wearing a protective boot.

Racela, brother of former Petron coach Olsen, was magnanimous in victory, saying:

“Ateneo is a strong team. Wala lang si Kiefer but I believe they will be more formidable when he comes back.”

Other heroes for FEU were guards Mike Tolomia (16 points, five rebounds and two assists), RR Garcia (13 points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks) and American center Anthony Hargrove (eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks).

It’s the third time in the last four seasons that FEU started the season 2-0 but Racela warned his team not to be satisfied, especially after last year’s meltdown where the Tams missed the Final Four despite winning their first four matches.

FEU’s win negated the heroics of veteran Ryan Buenafe who scored a career-high 29 points aside from grabbing 15 boards. But he tired out late in the regulation.

Ateneo’s back-to-back defeat was its first in years. The Eagles were beaten soundly by title favorite National University, 64-54, last Sunday.

Earlier, La Salle came out with guns ablaze to beat a short-handed University of the Philippines squad, 96-84, for its first win in two games.

Jeron Teng and Jason Perkins led La Salle’s massive attack early and went on to finish 20 points each with the latter adding 13 rebounds.