The Games That Play Us (S76): The Morayta Bromance

FEU TAMARAWS over UE RED WARRIORS, 89-78

For one half, the Warriors of UE looked every bit the preseason champs they were.

And then Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia reminded the Recto Reds that the UAAP is a whole different ballgame.

Terrence Romeo was at his very best against the
upstart Red Warriors.
(image from Yahoo! Philippines/NPPA)

For the entire first quarter, the Warriors of comebacking coach Boysie Zamar displayed the chutzpah that helped them dethrone the NU Bulldogs in the 2013 Filoil Flying V Preseason Premier Cup Finals. Adi Santos, Chris Javier, and the returning JM Noble combined to propel UE to a 9-2 lead midway in the first frame. FEU tried to counter, but Roi Sumang, JR Sumido, and newly minted Warrior Ralf Olivares (it is worth noting that Olivares is playing in his first and last year for UE, if the formal UAAP roster document is to be believed) answered every Moraytan basket with their own to erect a 10-point lead for the Reds entering the second period.

Things continue to smell rosy for UE in this quarter. Sumang and Olivares continued to puncture the hoops, with the Warriors eventually leading by as many as eleven, 37-26, with just over a minute to go before the cheerleaders take the floor.

At this point, it looked like many a preseason predictions were indeed seeing the light of day – the UE Red Warriors looked every inch a Final Four contender, while the FEU Tamaraws looked every bit a Final Four pretender.

But then Mac Belo and Chris Tolomia both hit a trey inside the final minute to cut the deficit to only 5 points. More importantly, however, momentum seemed to have swung the other way. For 19 minutes, coach Boysie’s boys seemed firmly in control. Then they let up for one minute and let those Tams trampling back in the game.

These are the moments when a team’s character is truly tested. Would the Warriors respond with another run when the second half begins? Would Roi Sumang emerge as the leader he has the chops to be? Would Charles Mammie continue to thwart a relatively sparse FEU frontline?

Apparently, the answer to all three questions was en emphatic NO.

Spearheaded by Anthony Hargrove and Terrence Romeo, new coach Nash Racela’s posse scored almost as many points in the third period as they did in the entire first half (29 to 32). Those two Tams actually outscored the whole UE team in this quarter, 20-17, effectively wresting control of the game as FEU went into the payoff period up, 61-54.

Up until this point, RR Garcia was just humming. The former MVP had scored just 7 points total, all in the first half.

But that would change.

With coach Boysie’s Warriors feeling a sense of urgency, FEU had to turn to someone to make sure the Tams wouldn’t collapse in the endgame (something they did quite a few times in Season 75). Garcia drilled 11 points in the fourth quarter, including two straight triples that broke UE’s collective backs. He finished the game with 18 points, right behind backcourt mate Romeo, who sparkled with 23 markers on top of 12 rebounds and 9 assists.

Yes, Romeo. Terrence effing Romeo, who led the league in field goals attempted last season with a 14-game total of 245 (that’s more than 17 shots per game), connecting on only under 40% (on average, that’s basically a 7-of-17 FG shooting performance every game), not only cleaned glass, he distributed the ball as well. Heck, he nearly registered the first triple-double of the season in its very first game.

I have to begrudgingly admit – Romeo was really impressive. This was something we haven’t seen from him before, or, at least, not with significant consistency. And, get this, the guy with whom he connected on a few occasions was RR Garcia.

For the past few seasons, a lot of people (me especially) have harped about the incongruous partnership between Romeo and RR, but their bromance was definitely on a different level yesterday. They combined for 41 big points, giving FEU a big win over a projected Final Four team.

I feel for UE. Wow, how can a team play so well for the first 19 minutes and then sputter for the remaining 21? Coach Boysie will probably use this game as input for ramming an important lesson into his Warriors’ crania – summer’s done, this is the UAAP regular season. Coaches are done experimenting with player combinations. Players are done getting into shape. Teams are now in a different mode. Chop chop.

And for coach Nash, the big question, as always, is can both his stars make sweet music like this on a consistent basis? They have the 5-time champs lined up next, so that would be an even bigger acid test for this often tumultuous partnership.