By Joaquin Luis E. Quesada

Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws blew their double-digit lead in the first half to hand the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles its 11th straight win, 55-65, in the second round of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 82 men’s basketball tournament, October 16 at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.

“Nagulat kami. Sabi ni coach Olsen na (We were surprised. Coach Olsen said that) ‘don’t be surprised if we’re leading at halftime’ and then for us [players] we didn’t believe. We didn’t believe in the second half," FEU’s skipper Kenneth Tuffin said.

Ateneo quickly started the match with a 0-7 scoring run. Jumping into the second quarter, FEU never looked behind to tame the Eagles with an 11-point cushion at 40-29, ending the first half with a buzzer-beater triple of Brandrey Bienes.

However, after halftime, the Katipunan-based squad shined brighter than their first half performance. Ateneo trimmed the deficit to one, 47-46, courtesy of Thirdy Ravena’s layup.

Blue Eagles’ own Matt Nieto was then slapped with a technical foul for flopping in the sixth-minute mark of the third canto. Three minutes later, SJ Belangel was called with an unsportsmanlike foul on FEU’s rookie guard Royce Alforque.

In the ninth-minute mark of the final frame, Pat Maagdenberg gave the Blue Eagles their first lead since the opening minutes of the match, 47-49.

Moreover, Wendell Comboy gave the Tams some daylight with his back-to-back treys to trim the Eagles’ lead to two, 55-57. But the Baldwin-led squad charged with a 0-6 run to close the game and remained undefeated.

L-Jay Gonzales led the green-and-gold cagers with 12 markers, while Wendell Comboy and Brandrey Bienes chipped in a total of eight points apiece.

The Morayta dribblers now have a 5-6 win-loss card and at fifth place of standings. They will prepare their next game against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers on Saturday, October 19 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

“That’s the mentality now, like the Ateneo [game] is done and we have to move on to the next game," Tuffin ended.

(See full album: UAAP 82 Men's Basketball Round 2 - FEU vs Ateneo)