10 October 2018
By Maxine Louise Lagman
Manila, Philippines – The Far Eastern University ended the second round of the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament on a high note after stunning Ateneo De Manila University, 63-60, Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
FEU clinched their third consecutive win and now tied with Ateneo at second place with a 5-2 win-loss record behind Adamson University.
The Tamaraws managed to find their beat after a sloppy first half. Down by 10 in the second quarter, 22-32, Hubert Cani boosted his teammates to tie the game at 39-all in the third.
It was a tough battle for both teams in the payoff period, but FEU finally emerged on top of the game, 61-56, after another Cani basket with only less than two minutes left in the game.
Mike Nieto retaliated with his own score for the Blue Eagle to keep them within a three-point range, 61-58.
With only 30 ticks on the clock, Richard Escoto drove past the defense of Ateneo and shot another for FEU for a 63-58 lead, which eventually sealed the deal.
Adrian Wong could have sent the game to overtime, but missed his shot from the three-point line.
Cani led the Tams with 12 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Jasper Parker chipped in nine markers and eight boards.
On the other hand, Angelo Kouama was the lone double-digit scorer for the Blue Eagles with 16 points on top of 12 rebounds and four blocks.
The Scores:
FEU 63 – Cani 12, Parker 9, Iñigo 9, Comboy 8, Orizu 8, Bienes 8, Stockton 5, Escoto 4, Ebona 0, Tuffin 0, Gonzales 0, Bayquin 0.
Ateneo 60 – Kouame 16, Verano 8, Ravena 8, Nieto Mi 8, Asistio 6, Mamuyac 6, Mendoza 4, Go 2, Wong 2, Tio 0, Navarro 0, Belangel 0, Nieto Ma 0, Black 0.
Quarters: 11-19, 22-32, 39-39, 63-60
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