Published October 6, 2019, 7:40 PM By Kristel Satumbaga

Games Wednesday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

10:30 a.m. – NU vs FEU

12:30 p.m. – UST vs UE

4 p.m. – Ateneo vs Adamson

Wendell Comboy goes for a shot against JD Tungcab during FEU’s 82-79 overtime win over UP. (UAAP Images)

Far Eastern University averted a big collapse to top University of the Philippines 82-79 in overtime Sunday night in the UAAP season 82 men’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tamaraws regained lost form in the extra five-minute period after the Fighting Maroons came back behind 16 consecutive points to claim their fourth win in eight games and create a three-way tie for third to fifth with the La Salle Green Archers and University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.

Team Standings W L Ateneo 8 0 UP 5 3 UST 4 4 FEU 4 4 La Salle 4 4 Adamson 3 5 UE 3 5 NU 1 7 The victory avenged also FEU’s 61-55 loss to UP in opening day.

Ken Tuffin made his presence felt with 18 points while LJ Gonzales sizzled with a career-high 17 points and 12 boards for the Tamaraws, who leaned on their outside shooting.

FEU unloaded 11 triples include three in overtime.

“It’s a hard-fought win for us. I told the boys that we have to focus on what’s right in front of us,” said FEU coach Olsen Racela, who the other night served as an assistant during Barangay Ginebra’s match against NLEX in the PBA Governors’ Cup in Dubai.

Leading 69-53 with 5:58 left, the Tamaraws remained scoreless and watched the Maroons close that gap behind Kobe Paras and Bright Akhuetie.

Wendell Comboy attempted a buzzer-beating trey to win for FEU in the regulation, but it bounced off the rim.

UP remained at second with 5-3 and felt the absence of coach Bo Perasol, who served the first of his three-game ban.

Assistant coach Ricky Dandan called the shots in the absence of Perasol but UP suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season.

Paras led the Maroons with 22 points, nine rebounds and six steals, Akhuetie chipped in 14 points and 11 boards and Javi Gomez De Liaño added 11 points to no avail.

The Scores:

FEU 82 – Tuffin 18, Gonzales 17, Tchuente 14, Torres 12, Comboy 10, Stockton 5, Cani 4, Eboña 2, Alforque 0, Bayquin 0, Bienes 0, Celzo 0, Nunag 0.

UP 79 – Paras 22, Akhuetie 14, Gomez de Liaño Ja. 11, Gomez de Liaño Ju. 8, Manzo 7, Tungcab 5, Rivero 4, Spencer 3, Webb 3, Prado 2, Jaboneta 0, Murrell 0.

Quarters: 18-17, 30-27, 60-43, 69-69, 82-79.

Tags: Far Eastern University , UAAP season 82 men's basketball , University of the Philippines