By NIKOLE JAVIER
Far Eastern University ended its UAAP Season 85 campaign in dominant fashion after dumping University of Santo Tomas, 77-62, in the men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Nov. 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
LJay Gonzales finished with 15 points apart from four rebounds and two steals while Bryan Sajonia and Xyrus Torres had 11 and 10, respectively.
The Tamaraws began to pull away for good with a blistering 12-0 run midway through the final quarter for a 19-point advantage.
Determined to pull UST for a win, Joshua Garing fired back-to-back triples to cut down their deficit by 13 before Gonzales and Kyle Bautista raced for two more baskets which were already too overwhelming for the former to confront.
After a four-game slide, FEU will ending the season with a a 5-9 record as its eight straight Final Four appearances come to an end.
“Situation namin today something different. We did not make the Final Four, sanay kami na may post-season. But I told them we could do also something different. In the past five years that I’ve been here, we always finish the season with a loss. this is something that we can cary moving forward. Natapos namin ‘yong season with the win just a total team effort. I promised them I will use every single player today and everyone contributed,” said FEU head coach Olsen Racela.
UST, on the other hand, absorbed its 12 straight losses in 13 outings.
Without Nic Cabanero on the floor due to an injury he sustained in their game against University of the Philippines last Nov. 23, Ivan Lazarte stepped up with 13 points in the losing effort.
Meanwhile, Christian Manaytay and Adame Faye had a similar 10-point outing with the latter hauling 18 boards.
Likewise, on Wednesday, the Tigers will try their luck against the De La Salle Green Archers to attempt a season-ender win.
The Scores: FEU 77 -- Gonzales 15, Sajonia 11, Torres 10, Sleat 9, Sandagon 8, Alforque 7, Tchuente 7, Bautista 3, Gravera 3, Anonuevo 2, Songcuya 2, Ona 0, Tempra 0, Bagunu 0, Celzo 0, Guibao 0.
UST 62 -- Lazarte 13, Faye 10, Manaytay 10, Garing 9, Laure 7, Manalang 5, Pangilinan 5, Duremdes 3, Escobido 0, Mantua 0, Herrera 0.
Quarters: 24-17, 40-33, 56-45, 77-62.