SPORT: Heroic baskets net FEU's Jose Player of the Week plum

Raymar Jose of the FEU Tamaraws soars for a basket against University of the Philippines in the second round action of the UAAP, Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. | Contributed Photo

           

MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern University struggled with a 20-point deficit at the end of first quarter against University of the Philippines last Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum, but Raymar Jose took the lead to save the Tamaraws from an upset loss.

 

Jose had a big outing against the Tamaraws as he finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the squad to a 63-60 win over UP to extend their winning streak to seven games in the UAAP Season 79.

 

Jose scored two crucial baskets in crunch time to give FEU a 63-57 lead with 1:30 left in the game before the rest of the Tamaraws showed their defensive intensity to pull off the win.

 

Jose’s performance came after the Tamaraws fell behind, 28-8, at the end of the first period.

 

“We were passive from the start. Coach told us that if we want to win the game, we need to work hard for it,” said Jose, who was adjudged the ACCEL Quantum/3XVI-UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week.

 

With Jose’s performance, FEU strengthened its hold of the second spot with 8-2 win-loss record, enough to clinch at least a playoff for the Final Four.

 

Jose defeated Adamson's Papi Sarr, La Salle’s Ben Mbala and Jeron Teng and Ateneo’s Rafael Verano for the weekly citation given by scribes from broadsheets, tabloids and online portals covering the UAAP beat.

 

Jose also joined Monbert Arong as the two FEU players who won the weekly plum.

 

Despite the win over UP, FEU coach Nash Racela made it clear he wants his wards to play consistent basketball if the Tamaraws want to go deep in the tournament.

 

“It’s good that the players responded in the second quarter defensively. But we need to play good basketball for 40 minutes for us to really have a good chance every game,” said Racela.