Rookie Mangcopa stars with clutch plays as Tamaraws shock Archers

FEU’s Kirby Mongcopa (31)

(UAAP Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — The future of Far Eastern University was in full display on Sunday, as the Tamaraws stunned the La Salle Green Archers, 84-83, in their UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball clash at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Trailing by one, 82-83, the Tamaraws went to rookie Kirby Mongcopa off a picture-perfect pass from sophomore Janrey Pasaol for the clutch bankshot that pushed them ahead for good, 84-83, with 26.2 seconds left.

And on the other end, Jacob Cortez attacked the defense of FEU, only to be denied by Mongcopa.

La Salle, though, stole the ball, but a late 3-pointer by JC Macalalag for the win missed, with Mike Phillips’ tip-in also coming off a bit too strong, giving FEU the much-needed win as they remained in the Final Four race.

After the game, Tamaraws head coach Sean Chambers lauded his team, especially the young guns.

“I first want to say that we are super grateful to just be in this stage and be able to be in this place. So we're really grateful and thankful for God for putting us in this situation. But we also want to say, we know La Salle's a championship team. And for us, as I left the house today, I kept saying to myself, we have to beat one of the big teams in this tournament in order for us to finally to arrive,” he told reporters.

“With a sophomore, sophomore, and a freshman, we have to eventually have a level of maturity level where we can win one of these games when it's close. And if we can, we feel like the sky's the limit for this team. And so I'm so happy with these guys,” he added.

Pasaol led the charge for FEU with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Mo onateh had 14 markers and nine boards.

Jorick Bautista chipped in 12 markers, while Mongcopa, one of the top rookies of the season, finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven rebounds.

“Kirby, my God, incredible. Janrey, incredible. Jedric [Daa] was 100% in the first half. I'm not sure what he finished with. But the future of FEU is right here. And the sky's the limit for them if we continue to work hard.”

The Tamaraws led by as much as 14 points, 46-32, after a Konateh layup in the second quarter.

But La Salle clawed out of the hole, taking the lead, 55-54, after a Macalalag triple in the third quarter.

The game then turned into a nip-and-tuck affair, before big shots by Luis Pablo gave La Salle the 83-82 advantage, setting the stage for Mongcopa’s game-winner.

“Grabe rin ‘yung preparation namin sa practice. Si Coach Sean, nakita namin sa practice na sobrang focused niya and ‘yung galit niya sa amin pinapakita niya sa amin na kaya namin. Binigay lang namin ang best namin,” Mongcopa said.

Earl Abadam paced the Green Archers with 18 points, while Macalalag and Phillips had 14 apiece.

La Salle is now holding a 6-5 win-loss record, good for the fourth spot. FEU, now at seventh place, is just a game and a half behind the Archers.