After lumbering at the bottom of the standings with five listless outings, Far Eastern University has now racked up two straight wins.
The Tamaraws banked on a late fourth quarter charge to shock National University in a low-scoring battle to eke out a 47-44 victory in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men's basketball tournament at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo on Sunday.
FEU charged to a 9-0 run in the final five minutes of the payoff period for the stunner that improved the Tamaraws' win-loss record to 2-5 at the solo seventh spot to close the first round.
"It was a defensive game. That's what I told my players before the game that we needed their defensive mindset going into the game against NU," Tamaraws coach Olsen Racela said.
Protecting a precarious 45-44 lead, LJ Gonzales gave FEU some breathing room with a basket before the Tamaraws clamped down on defense to deny NU a chance to salvage the game.
NU forward John Figueroa slipped above the key with FEU putting pressure defense. Kean Baclaan recovered the ball at halfcourt but his desperation heave was way off the line as the final buzzer sounded.
"It's a low-scoring ballgame but our defense gave us the chance really in this game. I'm proud with the way they played. Really a total team effort for us.
The Tamaraws dissolved the Bulldogs' 40-36 lead in the last 5:07 of the match with a furious fightback sparked by a triple by Kyle Bautista. Cholo Anunuevo added a basket before Patrick Tchuente scored on a putback off his missed free throw.
Bryan Sajonia capped the crucial FEU run with a layup off a steal for a 45-40 lead with 2:33 left.
Mike Malonzo and Omar John answered with back-to-back baskets before Gonzales' strong drive off an isolation play against Malonzo.
Sajonia finished with 12 points and five rebounds to lead FEU. Gonzales and Bautista had nine markers each while Tchuente got six points and 18 rebounds for the Tamaraws.
The Bulldogs slipped to a two-way tie at second spot with Ateneo de Manila University with 5-2 slates.
John had nine points while John Lloyd Clemente, Figueroa and Baclaan chipped in eight markers each for NU.
The Scores:
FEU (47) — Sajonia 12, Gonzales 9, Bautista 9, Tchuente 6, Torres 6, Anonuevo 5, Alforque 0, Sleat 0, Sandagon 0, Tempra 0, Bagunu 0, Celzo 0.
NU (44) — John 9, Clemente 8, Figueroa 8, Baclaan 6, Manansala 5, Malonzo 4, Minerva 3, Enriquez 1, Yu 0, Mahinay 0, Galinato 0, Tibayan 0, Padrones 0.
Quarters: 12-16, 22-26, 31-33, 47-44.