New breed of Tamaraws emerge as NCC co-champion

FEU Advocate
December 18, 2015 07:35

By Ezekiel C. Mendoza

Almost three weeks since the successful stint in the 78th Season of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the rebuilding Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws heavily relied on their former second stringers Joe Trinidad and Ken Holmqvist for an impressive victory over Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Incorporated (CESAFI) champion University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 82-77, in the 2015 National Collegiate Championship (NCC) at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Due to Typhoon Nona, the two semifinal games were postponed, which was originally scheduled yesterday, December 1. Meanwhile, the final game was supposedly to be played today, December 17.

NCC came up with the decision of declaring the green-and-gold squad, automatically in the NCC Final Four following their championship in UAAP, and San Beda College (SBC), defeating Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 94-72, as the co-champions of the tournament without playing in the championship game anymore.

FEU earned their third title, previously attained last 2004 and 2005, and is now tied with the tournament’s winning-est team, Ateneo de Manila University.

In the second game, Tamaraws’ Prince Orizu, K. Holmqvist, and Trinidad, were among the Mythical Five together with Shooster Olago and Ian Tagapan of USC.

K. Holmqvist also won the MVP plum. On the other hand, FEU Head Coach Nash Racela named the best coach. Trinidad topscored for Tamaraws with 19 points. K. Holmqvist posted a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards while Steve Holmqvist had 10 markers. Brandrey Bienes, former Batang Gilas member, contributed 9 points

This was the first game of FEU without the presence of its' veterans and six graduating players namely Mike Tolomia, Mark Belo, Roger Pogoy, Russel Escoto, Achie Iñigo, and Francis Tamsi.