Ateneo Loses to FEU Tamaraws, 79-75: ADMU Down to 0-2 with UP, UE

Looks like the Ateneo Men's Basketball Team, ADMU Blue Eagles won't be able to defend their title this year. Their first two matches with the toughest teams in the UAAP Season 76 Men's Basketball Tournament at MOA Arena proved to be very difficult. FEU Tamaraw downed them, 79-75 after an overtime. FEU sets the record straight after this game, with an unbeaten scorecard.

The Tamaraws, who are not considered serious contenders this season, chalked up their second victory while dealing the defending champion Blue Eagles their second defeat in as many games — a first since 2003.

“This is a very important for us. We want to get all wins we could get. Especially with the competition we have here,” said head coach Nash Racela.

“Ateneo is a very strong team. We’re fortunate to be able to get his win,” he added.

Terrence Romeo continued his impressive performance, unleashing 21 points, including six of the last eight points of FEU in the extra five minutes.

While they missed the chance to wrap the game up in regulation after they led by as many as 11, the Tamaraws built an early lead in the extension period and never relinquished it.

The guards of FEU took over as a triple from Mike Tolomia, who also starred with 16 points, and a fancy lay-up from RR Garcia, who had 13, gave the Tamaraws a 71-66 edge.

Ryan Buenafe willed Ateneo back with four straight points and tied the game at 73, but Roger Pogoy regained the lead for FEU before Romeo capped the game with four straight freebies.

Romeo — who only had three assists this game, but also notched three steals — was nearly perfect from the stripe, just missing one of his 13 tries.

Ateneo is currently at the bottom of the pack with UP and UE, 0-2. - - - from Inquirer.Net