Quick Fire: FEU Tamaraws with huge bench contributions use fourth quarter run to defeat UST Growling Tigers

(Photo Credit: Alvin S. Go, Tiebreaker Times)

Final Score: FEU Tamaraws def. UST Tigers 78-65

Notable Players:

Arvin Tolentino, FEU (15 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block): This sort of “break out” game by Arvin Tolentino was long overdue. Everybody saw his potential in the previous games, but had limited minutes and sidelined because of a minor hyperextended knee. Arvin looked really healthy and 100% in this game, filled up the stat sheet with a double double, and is expected to make bigger contributions in the coming games.

Ron Dennison, FEU (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal): Ron Dennison was his usual self for this game. Bringing toughness on both sides of the court. If there’s one thin that can be seen in the stat sheet, that would be his hustle and all the intangibles he bring to the court.

Jasper Parker, FEU (8 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block): Jasper Parker had an all around game and filled up the stat sheet. Getting a 5x3 statline in the UAAP is already hard, add it with 2 stls and a block makes it more impressive

Jeepy Faundo, UST ( 16 points, 11 rebounds, 1 block): Jeepy Faundo was one of the few bright spots for UST in this game. He’s the top scorer and top rebounder for the game for both teams.

Jordan Sta. Ana, UST (11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists): Jordan Sta. Ana took care of the back court while Marvin Lee struggled in today’s game. Though his statline may look like average, he played 29 minutes, the most in today’s game, while giving all out effort on both sides.

Quick Analysis:

- By the start of the game, FEU looked flat and UST took an early lead up until halftime and 3^rd Quarter. There was an interesting statistic on UST defense and FEU’s offense for the story of the 1^st half. For the season, UST’s average of allowing 1^st half points is 46, while FEU’s average of scoring 1^st half points is 43. FEU only had 31 points by halftime. FEU’s offense, at times, looked lost for most of the first half, and it would be credited to UST’s gritty defense.

- One significant factor in today’s game would be the turnovers. FEU had “only” 16 while UST had 24 turnovers. Though it may look like the difference isn’t that big, UST only had 10 pts off TO’s while FEU had 30 pts off TO’s. Meaning, UST only capitalized only about a third of FEU’s TOs while FEU converted off about hale the UST’s turnovers.

- FEU’s depth once again showed and delivered in the game. For the past decade, FEU is known for always having a reliable bench; the back ups and subs who play like they aren’t just backups. The stats tell it all for this game. FEU had a whopping 49 bench points compared to UST’s 25 bench points. To put that into perspective, FEU’s bench alone already outscored UST’s starters who had 40 in the game.

After halftime, it still looked like it was going to be a close fight until the end of the game. However, FEU had a change of defensive schemes and this could’ve triggered their big run by mid 3^rd quarter up until the end of the game. FEU went a step back with their press, and instead swithed it up into a sort if 1-2-2 or 3-2 zone. UST had a hard time on making outside shots (6/24 FGs in jumpshots) the whole game and the zone worked for FEU. The Tamaraws ended up scoring 29 points in the 4^th quarter alone when they started pulling away in the 4^th quarter, while UST’s 29 points was their total for the whole 2^nd half.