Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Team Captain LJay Gonzales recognized that the team still lacks better defense and chemistry as they succumbed to the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons, 67-73, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 men’s basketball tourney held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City last October 8.

“Siguro marami pa kaming pagkukulang sa lahat, sa game like sa defense, communication, and ‘yung chemistry namin (I think that we lacked in a lot of things, in the game like defense, communication, and our chemistry),” Gonzales shared in an interview with FEU Advocate.

Gonzales also mentioned that the team will continue the system despite not getting the expected results in their games.

“Ginawa naman namin ‘yung pinapagawa ni coach, [and] proud naman siya talaga… ‘Yung ganoong play, dapat ganun ‘yung game namin sa next game namin (We did what coach tells us to do, [and] he is actually proud… That kind of play, our game should be like that in our next game),” the FEU veteran guard added.

The Morayta-based squad trailed by as much as 14 points during the early minutes of the match.

Similar to their past two games in the season, the Tamaraws executed a complete turnaround during the second canto as the team managed to produce 32 points in total as compared to UP’s 18 points, 42-41.

Both teams had a back-and-forth affair in the second half, but the powerful offense pulled by the Fighting Maroons made the green-and-gold squad suffer another close game loss.

FEU’s Ximone Sandagon led the Tamaraws as he contributed 20 points in the game, while Gonzales and Patrick Sleat chipped in 11 points apiece.

With the loss, the Morayta dribblers went to the bottom of the barrel with a 0-3 win-loss card.

FEU sophomore guard Sleat mentioned that the team will keep on moving forward and give their best during the season.

“This is not what we want, but we need to keep on moving forward, keep on learning… Keep giving our one hundred percent on everything,” Sleat said.

The Tamaraws will continue to seek its first win in the collegiate league against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Wednesday, October 12 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

-Ma. Katlene R. Angcanan

(Photo courtesy of The UAAP)