By Aimerose C. Atienza

After taking on grueling matches, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws and Lady Tamaraws still expressed a good and fun learning experience in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 84 3x3 basketball tourney held last June 2 to 3 at the Calatagan South Beach Resort in Calatagan, Batangas.

Mikee Antonio, Mary Julienne Manguiat, Danica Pacia, and Camille Taguiam of the Lady Tamaraws sported a 2-4 win-loss record after a heartbreaking loss in an overtime game against the Adamson University Lady (AdU) Falcons that could have easily secured them a Final Four spot, 13-15.

With the standing, the FEU cagebelles had a four-way tie at fourth seed alongside Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Lady Eagles, AdU Lady Falcons, and De La Salle University Lady Archers. 

However, the huge quotient lead of AdMU after six games paved the way for the Lady Eagles to claim the final spot in the semifinals. The green-and-gold squad dropped to sixth place.

Lady Tams’ senior player Taguiam shared the struggles and what she thought went wrong for the team in the tournament.

“‘Yung struggle namin every game na napansin ko is ‘pag pagod na kami, nagloloose na kami at hindi na kami makapag-isip nang maayos, nawawala ‘yung communication [namin] (Our struggle every game that I noticed is when we’re tired, we loosen up and we can’t think straight, we lose communication),” she said. 

Taguiam added that it was still a great experience and they enjoyed every game, but there were still some adjustments that they have to make, especially as the UAAP resumes the women’s basketball tournament in the upcoming season.

“Sobrang daming lesson na nangyari ngayon. Sana pagbalik namin ng training, lahat ‘yun ma-adjust namin, lahat ma-apply namin at pagtrabahuhin pa namin nang mas dikdikan pa (There are so many lessons that have happened today. I hope that when we return to training, we can adjust all of them, we can all apply [the lessons] and we will work even harder),” she shared.

Meanwhile, the FEU cagers composed of Daniel Joe Celzo, Rodel Gravera, Ximone Sandagon, and Patrick Sleat were winless with a 0-6 win-loss record at the end of the elimination round which landed them at the last spot. The team almost clinched a win in a wire-to-wire matchup against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 11-12.

FEU Rookie Sleat acknowledged that there are still a lot of things that they have to learn as a team coming into the league.

“Well, it was fun pero (but) we didn’t get the results that we want to, and it just reminds us na we have many things to learn pa  (that we still have many things to learn) and many work[s] to do before [UAAP] season 85 comes,” he said.

The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and the National University Lady Bulldogs emerged as champions for the men’s and women’s 3x3 basketball tournaments respectively.

(Photo courtesy of The UAAP)