THE FAR Eastern University-Diliman bucked the absence of two-time UAAP juniors MVP and Cebuano Jerie Marlon Pingoy as it defeated Ateneo, 73-70, in the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) yesterday at the Chiang Kai-Shek College gym in Manila.
Pingoy was held in sick bay as the former University of Cebu hotshot was down with cough and colds, according to a post on his Twitter account last Friday.
Still, the Baby Tamaraws fought with focus and determination and rode on the brilliance of JJ Domingo, who scored 22 points including several clutch makes that kept Ateneo at bay in the dying seconds.
Domingo made a three-pointer and a lay-in for a 70-67 lead with under a minute left in the match. Ateneo responded with a bucket by Michale Nieto but was answered by Louie Magbuhos’ twinner for a 72-69 score with 25 ticks left on the clock.
Domingo nearly went from hero to goat as he missed two freebies but luckily was able to grab his own miss and was fouled again. This time, he made one of two for the final tally as the Blue Eaglets’ desperate try at a game-tying trey fell way short for their second straight defeat.
Pingoy has been at the center of a recruitment war staged between FEU and Ateneo with the former claiming that they have an agreement with 5-foot-9 guard to play for the Tamaraws next season. Pingoy’s dad, though, said in an interview with the Inquirer that he is definitely sure that his son will play for the blue and white. But the younger Pingoy put a stop to all the rumors just recently as he stated that he has yet to decided which school he will play for next season. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio