By Vince Matthew Jaramilla

After leading for basically the whole game, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws fumbled their supposed win against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 51-56, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 men's basketball tourney earlier today, September 18, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

In a post-game interview with FEU Advocate, Tamaraws head coach Sean Chambers highlighted the potential of the freshmen to compete in the future despite their current losing streak.

"[In] the positive [side], we had a chance to win all three games. We were there… We started five freshmen today. We know [that] next year, these guys are gonna be a problem," he said.

Sean Chambers started with five rookies in Janrey Pasaol, Adam Nakai, Jedric Daa, Veejay Pre, and Mo Konateh as they played the game without Cholo Añonuevo who currently has an undisclosed injury.

The full-rookie lineup saw a slow offensive start in the game, only getting the lid off the cup through a triple by newly subbed-in Jorick Bautista with 5:45 left in the first frame, 4-4. 

In the next two minutes, the Tamaraws' shooting remained true as Bautista and Royce Alforque knocked down a trey each to go up 10-8.

FEU led at the end of the first frame, 14-9, after free throws from both teams due to penalty.

In the second quarter, the Morayta squad's offense flowed more smoothly which resulted in a 7-3 start.

However, the Recto cagers responded with a bigger run of 11-3 by utilizing extra passes and switching to a two-three zone defense, cutting the lead to just one, 24-23.

Despite the one-possession game, FEU had another run in their hands in the quarter, which was capped off by Bautista's fourth trey of the match, 32-25.

Through relentless play on the boards from frontline players Veejay Pre and Miguel Ona in the third canto, the Tamaraws remained on top of the Warriors, 42-34, despite getting into early penalty.

Unfortunately, FEU's effort on the defensive end depleted in the last minutes of the frame, only enjoying a four-point lead by the end of it, 42-38.

The final quarter did not begin for the better for the green-and-gold squad as a three by red-and-white cager Gjerard Wilson sparked a 7-0 run to give UE its first lead since the first frame, 42-45.

In the final five minutes, the intensity and pace of the match rose up to another level with a back-and-forth affair between the squads as they tried to snatch the victory.

FEU did reclaim the lead within the fast-paced play, with their own 9-2 streak to get back to a two-possession game, 51-47.

With two minutes remaining, the Tamaraws was still holding on to a three-point lead and their first win of the season seemed to be in sight. However, Warrior Ethan Galang had other plans, knocking down a game-tying triple with 1:16 left on the clock, 51-51.

Galang did not stop there as he clutched another three with 25 seconds remaining, taking the lead to threaten the Tams.

With a timeout and a whole shot clock, FEU captains Alforque and Bautista tried to shed light to the Tamaraws with quick twos, but UE's defense remained solid. The Morayta squads' offensive rebounds also did not matter.

The green-and-gold cagers attempted to play the foul game to hopefully have another shot of stretching the match to overtime, but UE's dagger free throws sealed the game to deny FEU its first season win.

Considering the pressure on the Tam rookies in another loss, Coach Chambers apologized to his players but emphasized the growth they will experience.

"In the whole run, they're gonna be dynamic from it. Right now, [I give] my apologies to them because we're asking a lot [from] and they're brand new to the team. But, they're good enough to do it. Eventually, they're gonna become better from it," he stated.

The lead tactician then highlighted their need to just improve as the youngest team in the UAAP.

"We just [have] to continue to work on getting better… I don't think there's a team in the league that we cannot beat, but I don't think any other team is gonna go through the same growing pains as we are. We are the youngest team in the league. This is our team until we continue to build from it," he added.

Bautista led the scoring with 16 points, followed closely by Pre with 13. Meanwhile, Konateh was a monster on the boards, cleaning the glass 17 times alongside his six markers.

Still with a zero in the win column, the Chambers-led squad will try to break their losing slump in their next match against University of the Philippines on Sunday, September 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

(Photo by Krystoffer Zyanel Bermudez/FEU Advocate)