MANILA – The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors willed their way to the Finals after hacking out a 78-72 win over second seed Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws on Thursday in the 72nd UAAP Final Four at the Araneta Coliseum.

Trailing the Tamaraws for three-fourths of the game, the Warriors tightened its defense in the final canto to sweep the Tamaraws in their Final Four series.

The win also gave UE the right to challenge defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Finals. 

FEU was enjoying a 68-63 lead in the fourth when UE’s back-up guard Rudy Lingganay suddenly sprang to action, scoring five straight points. He also fed Pari Llagas for a lay-up to turn the score in their favor, 70-68, midway of the final period.

Linggnay’s charge led to a 15-4 finishing salvo that extended UE’s winning run to eight since the eliminations. 

“I challenged my veterans especially the senior players at halftime and asked them, do you want this to be your last game,” UE rookie coach Lawrence Chongson said.  “We just showed the ‘Warrior will’.”

This is UE’s 5th Finals appearance since winning the UAAP title in 1985 when the Warriors were still bannered by Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera.

The Warriors’ last fought in the Finals in 2007 when they compiled a 14-0 record to forge a championship date with De La Salle. The Green Archers, however, swept UE to win the 2007 UAAP championship.

The remnants of that fateful 2007 team scored all but two of UE’s total points in this game.

Lee and Val Acuna paced the Warriors with 17 points each while Llagas, Lingganay and Espiritu combined for 37 points. Even seldom-used Toto Bandaying chipped in five markers.

“Basta gusto naming makabawi sa mga masasakit na talo namin noon.  Gusto naming ibahin ang tingin nila sa UE at i-break ‘yong jinx,” an emotional Lee said afterwards.

Playing for the second straight time without Andy Mark Barroca, FEU apparently headed to secure the game as it was ahead of UE during the first three quarters.

FEU, behind Ric Cawaling and Cameroonian rookie Pippo Noundou, opened the game with a 12-point lead, 27-15, late in the first period. The Tamaraws were also leading at the break, 51-45.

However, the Tamaraws collapsed in the second half, apparently missing a “go-to-guy” down the stretch. FEU shot a woeful 29 percent from the field in the second half.

“Malaking bagay rin na wala si (Andy Mark) Barroca.  Di mo matatawaran ang talent noong bata,” assessed Chongson. 

The Tamaraws will now miss the Finals for the fourth straight season. The last time FEU appeared in a Finals match was in 2005 when Arwind Santos led the Tams to win the UAAP title.

“Masakit, kasi ang ganda naman ng ipinakita namin. We just fell short,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio, who took the reins in 2007.

Cawaling and Noundou led FEU with 19 and 16 points, respectively. They, however, were held to just a basket each in the second half. By Alder T. Almo

The Scores:

UE 78 – Lee 17, Acuna 17, Llagas 16, Lingganay 15, Espiritu 6, Bandaying 5, Acibar 2, Zamar 0, Tagarda 0, Reyes 0, Ayala 0.

FEU 72 – Cawaling 19, Noundou 16, Garcia 13, Cervantes 12, Ramos 10, Sanga 2, Tanuan 0, Manalo 0, Eguilos 0, Caluag 0.

Quarters: 19-27, 45-51, 61-64, 78-72.