Far Eastern University is seeking a sixth straight semifinal appearance in 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
And the Tamaraws will have to make the most out of the opportunity they got following their 82-56 victory over the no. 2-seeded Adamson Falcons.
“If we took care of business early, dapat nasa magandang puwesto kami ngayon. Pero hindi maiiwasan ang mga injuries, tulad kay Prince (Orizu),” said Tams’ coach Olsen Racela.
Midway in the second round, the Tams trailed the La Salle University Green Archers and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons as they were still in contention for the last two slots in the Final Four.
That’s when Orizu went down with an injury and Arvin Tolentino got slapped with a two-game suspension,
But luck still smiled on the Tams after they won their last two games. They needed to score a win in their final game with the Falcons to force a playoff for the last spot.
“Right now, we have an opportunity. We have one more game,” said Racela as the Tams get ready to face the Green Archers on Wednesday for the no. 4 seeding and the right to face the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Final 4.
Meanwhile, Nigerian student-athlete Bright Akhuetie leads the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player race.
Bright, a transferee from the University of Perpetual Help, is the first Fighting Maroon expected to win the top individual honors in 32 years. The last time a Fighting Maroon won the MVP plum was back in 1986 with Eric Altamirano.
Akhuetie collected 82.5 Statistical Points coming from his norms of 18.9 points, 14.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals.
Ateneo rookie Angelo Kouame is second in the race with 14.4 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks norms, and 76.21 SPs.
In the Mythical Team are Alvin Pasaol (UE,74.57), Juan Gomez de Liano (UP,63.85), Justine Baltazar (DLSU, 62.28), and Jerrick Ahanmisi (ADU,58.38).