Practice made it almost perfect.
Ron Dennison fired 17 points, including 3-of-8 three-point attempts that connected that afternoon.Two of his treys at the start of the second half allowed the Far Eastern University Tamaraws to take control and overpower the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 80-67, Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Confident ako sa sarili ko na makukuha ko iyung shots ko. Pina-practice ko siya everyday,” said the 5’11 point guard from Cebu at the end of his team's first Final Four semifinals showdown with the Blue Eagles in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philipines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
Dennison, who said he fires 150 to 200 attempts from the three-point range during practice, scored 17 points and hauled down seven rebounds for the fourth-seeded Tams.
The Tams, who are in the Final Four for the fifth straight season, will clash with the Blue Eagle in playoff for the last finals seat on Wednesday.
Dennison banged in eight points in the third, including two triples in the opening minutes of the second half.
His first trey broke a 38-all deadlock in the remaining 8:26, while the second handed them a 48-40 spread, with 5:47 to go. After that FEU took a 12-point edge, 52-40.
Arvin Tolentino shot 13 points, with his perimeter shot with 9:20 left in the fourth keeping FEU ahead, 61-50.
Hubert Cani shot 11 points, with his trey in the last 2:42 giving FEU its biggest edge at 17, 75-58.
“Right now, we haven’t done anything yet. Ang nakuha lang namin, we took away the twice-to-beat advantage of Ateneo. We look forward to Wednesday’s game, and see what we can do to really stop a strong team like Ateneo,” said Tams coach Olsen Racela.
BOX SCORES
FEU 80 – Dennison 17, Tolentino 13, Cani 11, Orizu 10, Escoto 9, Inigo 8, Trinidad 5, Parker 4, Ebona 3, Comboy 0, Bayquin 0, Ramirez 0, Stockton 0, Tuffin 0
ATENEO 67 – Ravena 17, Nieto Mi 13, Nieto Ma 11, Go 9, Tolentino 5, Mendoza 4, Asistio 3, Tio 3, Verano 2, Ikeh 0, Black 0, Mamuyac 0, Mallillin 0
QUARTER SCORES: 21-15, 38-35, 59-48, 80-67