The Far Eastern University (FEU) men’s 3x3 basketball team closed the day one of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 81 3X3 basketball tournament with a lone win in four matches to hold a 1-3 win-loss slate, March 2, at the Ayala Malls Feliz in Pasig City.

“Babawi na lang [kami] bukas (We will bounce back tomorrow),” FEU veteran Wendel Comboy said regarding the team’s outing in the first day of the tournament.

The Morayta-based squad, composed of Comboy, Alec Stockton, LJ Gonzales, and Clifford Jopia, opened their campaign with a win against the University of Santo Tomas (UST), 9-11, courtesy of Comboy’s outstanding performance tallying eight markers in 41.7 field goal percentage.

Moments later, the green-and-gold squad absorbed their first defeat at the hands of the University of the Philippines (UP) Maroons in a tight match, 11-13, after finishing in a dismal 22.2 shooting percentage. It is followed with another loss against De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 9-17.

Their campaign on the first day of the tournament was then capped with their third loss at the hands of the Thirdy Ravena-led Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Blue Eagles, 8-13.

At some point, missed calls cost the Morayta-based squad the chance to take home the triumph.

With that, Comboy shared “’Di lang namin nagustuhan ‘yung result kasi merong mga calls na pwedeng tawagan pero ‘di tinawagan, crucial ‘yun para makuha namin ‘yung panalo (We did not like the outcome because of some calls that were not called, those were crucial for us to get the win).”

Being the defending champions, the green-and-gold cagers will seek to recover in the second day of the tournament by addressing their lapses in today’s games.

“Mas mag-fo-focus kami sa shooting kasi matatangkad ‘yung mga kalaban (We will focus more on shooting because the opponents are tall),” Comboy added.

The Tamaraws will aim to sweep their remaining games to make it in the semi-final round and defend their title on March 3 at the same venue.

-Mark Steven V. Donque