By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
WHILE believing they should be in a better position in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines had they taken care of business early on, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws are nonetheless not losing hope and determined to make it to the Final Four even if it is through the backdoor.
Defeated the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 82-56, on the final day of elimination play in the ongoing tournament on Sunday, the Tamaraws earned a playoff for the remaining semifinal spot.
They will face the De La Salle Green Archers in win-or-go home match on Wednesday to determine who get to take the last playoff ticket.
FEU and La Salle finished the classification phase with an identical 8-6 card along with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. But with a higher quotient, UP took third seed, leaving the Tamaraws and Archers to fight it out for number four.
In beating the undermanned Falcons, who played without top guns Jerrick Ahanmisi and Sean Manganti because of varying infirmities last time around, FEU relied on a total team effort to take control of the match right from the start and never relinquished it the rest of the way.
Wendell Comboy led a balanced Tamaraw attack with 11 points followed by Arvin Tolentino and Hubert Cani with 10 markers each.
Staying alive, FEU coach Olsen Racela said they are taking full advantage of the opportunity that they have, especially now they feel they have been getting the breaks.
“We’re getting the breaks here in the second round. This is a huge win for us and we have one game to play to make it to the Final Four and we will take full advantage of it,” said Mr. Racela following their victory over Adamson.
“Of course, we lament the situation we are in. Had we took care of business early on we would not be here fighting for our playoff lives and maybe in a far better position. But we are now getting the breaks and players are getting back from injuries. We still have an opportunity though and we’re not giving up,” he added.
It was a sentiment shared by Tolentino, named player of the game against the Falcons.
“We’re happy we got this win. But we have still one game to play. It’s not going to be easy for sure. We have to give everything in practice to prepare us for that game. Good luck to us,” said Tolentino.
Looking ahead to their all-important watch with La Salle, Mr. Racela said it is going to be a tough battle.
“It’s going to be a tough matchup since Taane Samuel is back in their lineup giving them a wide body. But Prince Orizu is back as well for us, so that should help us match up with them. They have a lot of weapons and we have to come in ready for the game,” Mr. Racela said.
The playoff match between FEU and La Salle is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Winner of the game earns a Final Four date with the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles with a twice-to-win handicap.
BRIGHT IS MVP
Meanwhile, UP’s Bright Akhuetie is set to become the Maroons’ first league most valuable player in 32 years.
Playing in his first year with the Diliman-based school after making the jump from the National Collegiate Athletic Association with the University of Perpetual Help, Akhuetie provided the expected boost to UP with averages of 18.9 points, 14.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals while helping the Maroons reach their first Final Four appearance after a two-decade drought.
Nigerian Akhuetie collected 82.5 total statistical points, beating Ange Kouame of defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles who finished with 76.21 SPs.
Joining Akhuetie in the mythical five are University of the East’s Alvin Pasaol (74.57 SPs), UP’s Juan Gomez de Liano (63.86 SPs), La Salle’s Justine Baltazar (61.29 SPs) and Adamson’s Ahanmisi (58.38 SPs).
Kouame is not part of the mythical team as league rules only allow the top foreign player to enter the group.
Akhuetie follows Eric Altamirano, part of the last champion UP team in 1986, as UAAP MVP.

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