Cebuano forward Roger Pogoy is penning a fitting end to this final chapter of his collegiate career as he led the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws to a 75-64 win over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in Game 1 of the UAAP finals yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Pogoy, the former University of Cebu (UC) product who hails from Talisay City, notched 15 points and added three assists and two steals to push FEU ahead, 1-0, in the best-of-three affair.
The Tamaraws, though, needed a great finishing kick to upend the pesky Tigers, who rallied from a 14-point deficit to take a 62-61 lead late in the fourth.
Mike Tolomia of FEU scoops up a shot against the defense of UST’s Marvin Lee (left) and Ed Daquioag (right) in Game 1 of the UAAP men’s basketball finals.
INQUIRER PHOTO/ KIMBERLY DELA CRUZ
But the veteran Tams did not flinch and uncorked a deadly 10-0 blast capped by a putback slam dunk by Prince Orizu and a transition bucket by Mike Tolomia to finish off the Tigers.
Tolomia had 13 markers and seven boards while Russel Escoto provided 12 and seven rebounds. Orizu and Mac Belo nearly had double-doubles with 10 and nine caroms and nine and 12 rebounds, respectively.
The Tams can win the title with a victory over the Tigers on Saturday.
The win ended the Tamaraws’ run of futility against the Tigers, who won both elimination-round encounters this season.
FEU coach Nash Racela credited the team’s defensive stand as their key to victory.
“They worked hard on defense at the start of the game and it showed today,” said Racela during the postgame press conference.
Karim Abdul scored 19 points while Kevin Ferrer had 15 points for UST. Wily guard Ed Daquioag however, finished with a measly four points.
THE SCORES:
FEU (75) — Pogoy 15, Tolomia 14, Belo 13, Ru. Escoto 12, Orizu 10, Tamsi 5, Jose 4, Arong 2, Dennison 0, Ri. Escoto 0, Inigo 0.
UST (64) — Abdul 19, Ferrer 15, Vigil 8, Bonleon 6, Lee 6, Daquioag 4, Faundo 0, Lao 0.
Quarterscores: 28-24; 47-34; 57-51; 75-64.