After Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Janrey Pasaol's 14-point game, head coach Sean Chambers gave praise to the rookie in a 65-54 win against the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men’s basketball tourney earlier today, November 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

“Janrey is the general of the court. When he’s playing well like today, it’s just amazing to watch because he has such a great feel for the game… He’s been getting better and better. He’s an absolute joy to coach because he loves the game,” Chambers emphasized in the post-game conference.

Pasaol also charted seven boards, six assists, and two steals while shooting at a 62.5 field goal percentage.

In the first minute, reinforcement Mo Konateh started the game with hefty plays in the paint, tipping in three early points for the Morayta team.

Meanwhile, FEU’s Adam Nakai attempted to rack up two early three-pointers, but both were blocked by Ateneo’s Kyle Ong.

Blue Eagle Ian Espinosa then took charge to keep up with the green-and-gold’s offensive strides, putting up eight points in the tally.

Rojan Montemayor and Pasaol eventually ballooned the Tamaraws through the first canto with a combined 10 points, 20-16.

The Katipunan-based squad tried to keep afloat by drawing fouls to their advantage and subbing back in their top-scorer, Espinosa, but it proved ineffective as Pasaol extended his scoring until the last two minutes of the second quarter, 33-29. 

At the start of the third frame, Blue Eagle Kristian Porter flicked five points to catch up with the green-and-gold cagers, 35-34.

As Tam Jorick Bautista answered back with a triple, Porter eventually began to miss a series of treys which cost the Eagles a crucial chance at taking the lead.

FEU gunners Bautista, Pasaol, and Montemayor then converted an Ateneo turnover into triple treys which extended their lead to 11, 49-38.

Hungry to overtake the green-and-gold cagers, Ateneo did not surrender as they forced a close game with a seven-point run off a turnover, 59-52. 

Despite the Eagles’ respective shifts in closing a tie, Pasaol pulled off yet another solid play with sneaky yet articulate passes in the paint with Veejay Pre and Konateh.

Toward the final minute of the match, Montemayor ultimately sealed the game with eight free throws, 65-54.

Having come a long way, Pasaol showed gratitude to his fellow teammates for guidance throughout his early collegiate career.

“Hanggang ngayon wino-work out ko pa rin ‘yung free throws ko, mga details ni Coach Sean… Nagpapasalamat ako [kina] Royce [Alforque] at ni Jorick. Kumbaga nandiyan sila para gabayan ako lagi, eh. Alam nilang ako na susunod sa mga point guard nila (Until now, I’m still working out my free throws, as well as Coach Sean’s details… I’m grateful for Royce and Jorick. They’re always there to guide me. They know I’ll be stepping up to their point guard position),” the rookie shared.

Coming from his monstrous 27-rebound game against De La Salle University last November 6, Konateh recorded a riveting 21 boards off the glass, while Montemayor stamped a valiant 13 points.

Building up to a 5-8 win-loss record, the Tamaraws seek a strong finish for round two in their last elimination game against two-seed University of the Philippines next Saturday, November 16, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

- Joshua Kyle Beltran
(Photo by Krystoffer Zyanel Bermudez/FEU Advocate)