Barroca saves Tams from defeat

MANILA – Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws rallied in the final quarter against the Adamson Falcons to pull off a dramatic 63-60 win during Thursday’s 72nd University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) at the Philsports Arena. Andy Barroca’s jumper near the top of the 15-foot lane with 26.9 ticks left in the game made the difference for FEU.

Barroca, a Smart Gilas-RP Team mainstay, drained his dagger shot following Leo Canuday’s triple which gave the Falcons a chance to regain the lead, 61-60. Before that sequence, the Tamaraws grabbed three straight offensive boards in a mad scramble for the possession. Adamson got piece of the leather after FEU’s fourth attempt, but Canuday lost the possession setting up Barroca’s heroics.

It was a sorry loss for the Falcons, who controlled three-fourths of the game. The Falcons enjoyed their biggest lead on Canuday’s basket, 49-40, in the closing seconds of the third period. FEU fought back in the payoff period. A JR Cawaling basket tied the contest 55-all with 4:58 remaining. Rookie RR Garcia's two straight baskets gave the Tamaraws a four-point cushion, 59-55. Canuday’s triple gave the Falcons a chance to steal the game at 60-61 with 1:49 to go. But Adamson’s inability to control the boards cost them the game. FEU grabbed 47 rebounds, 21 coming off the offensive end, including the last three in the mad dash to the finish line.“Again, it’s a mental lapse on our part. Alam kasi nila sa sarili nila na mas malakas sila kaysa Adamson gaya ng napapabalitang title contender kami,” explained FEU mentor Glenn Capacio. “Pero walang nagcha-champion on paper. Lahat nag-cha-champion on court.” Barroca wound up with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and four steals in a heroic effort to save the Tamaraws from an upset.

The Scores:
FEU 63- Barroca 15, Garcia 11, Cervantes 11, Noundou 10, Sanga 5, Ramos 4, Cawaling 4, Tanuan 3, Vinluan 0, Knuttel 0, Excimiano 0, Caluag 0.
AdU 60 – Camson 11, Galinato 10, Canuday 10, Lozada 9, Alvarez 8, Canada 6, Margallo 4, Colina 2, Santos 0, Cabrera 0.
Quarters: 12-17, 25-32, 41-49, 63-60.

Article by: Alder T. Almo, Photo by: Ian Evasco (FEU)