MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - With the play-offs fast approaching, FEU coach Glenn Capacio cannot help but reiterate their immediate goal: to make it to the Top 2.

And it starts with the hurdling of their last few assignments deep into the elimination, just like the Tamaraws’ 76-67 trampling of a listless University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Saturday to remain locked on top of the standings in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena.

“Our target is to be in the top two spots (going into the play-offs). We are after the twice-to-beat advantage pero syempre mas maganda kung nasa top kami,” Capacio said minutes after the Tamaraws climbed to 9-1 and slapped UST its fifth consecutive loss for a lowly 3-7 card.

Veteran slot man Aldrech Ramos ably filled the offensive slack left by the suspended Riel Cervantes as he tallied a game-high 21 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Tamaraws, who battled the Tigers on even terms until the middle of the fourth quarter before darting away in the endgame.

Staring at 56-all deadlock with 7:32 in the fourth, FEU went on a mind-boggling 12-1 tear entering the last two minutes of the contest to grab a commanding 71-57 lead that buffered the impact of the Tigers’ last-ditch assault fueled by a triple each from Jeric Fortuna and Clark Bautista and a pair of Jeric Teng baskets at garbage time.  

“I’m glad that our big men, especially Aldrech, stepped up to fill in for Riel and Pippo, who is still not yet feeling well,” Capacio said. “I always remind them that our rotation should be up to 12 players and that everyone has a role to play for the team.”

Indeed, FEU showed just that with its rookies providing quality minutes to take away the defensive heat off its starters.

Terrence Romeo again emerged as a reliable back-up to RR Garcia, registering 13 points on 5-of- 8 shooting, including a separation trey in the waning moments of the third period to douse UST’s mini-run and give the Tamaraws a 52-46 edge going into final quarter.

Then there were Carl Cruz and Mark Bringas who muscled their way through UST’s brittle interior to provide FEU with more leverage upfront.

Cruz managed only 8 points in 22 minutes but ably pinch-hitted for the still under-the-weather Noundou, to hold the fort inside.

The 6-foot-4 Bringas scored 5 of his 8 points late in the third to keep the Tigers at bay after closing in at 42-all on a Fortuna split and jumper that sandwiched an Ed Daquioag fastbreak lay-up with 4:19 left.

Fortuna led five Tigers in double-figures with 12 points on top of 7 assists while Aljon Mariano and Chris Camus added 11 apiece. Teng and Bautista knocked in 4 of UST’s 6 triples to finish with 10 markers each.

Garcia, despite UST’s tight perimeter marking, still logged in 11 points to go with 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Scores:

FEU 76 – Ramos 21, Romeo 13, Garcia 11, Cruz 8, Bringas 7, Noundou 6, Mendoza 3, Sanga 2, Exciminiano 2, Cawaling 2, Knuttel 1.

UST 67 – Fortuna 12, Mariano 11, Camus 11, Teng 10, Bautista 10, Afuang 7, Daquioag 4, Aytona 2, Pe 0, Mamaril 0.

Quarter scores: 19-17, 34-38, 52-49, 76-67.

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