I wish that this game did not end like this. I believe that we should let players decide the outcome of a basketball game by letting them play the way they know how.

The Tams defeated the NU Bulldogs in a very close and exciting game with a stunning twist, 86-85, with Big Bulldog Rey Mendoza showing life after 4 games hovering just above a single digit scoring average.

Today, the Bulldogs played its best game so far in the series with Mendoza scoring 28 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to literally carry the Bulldogs throughout the game.

1st Half

Mendoza and Flor opened the game with back to back baskets plus a foul to make it 5-0.

With NU moving the ball so well and attacking the hoop with relative ease, raced to a 10 point lead, 14-4 with 4:53 left in the 1st quarter.

A tragic accident happened when Howard Flor went for a lay-up landing on one leg and dislocating his ankle in the process. Flor was carried off the floor by a stretcher towards dugout. The injury was so serious that he had to be brought to the hospital immediately.

Playing a 1-3-1 zone, NU took command of the 1st quarter by increasing its lead to 12 with 4:21 minutes remaining with a score of 17-5. The Bulldogs at this juncture controlled the Tams by denying their entry passes to the paint and disrupting their extra hand-offs underneath the basket.

With Mendoza out for a rest with less than 4 minutes, FEU had a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 8, 17-9. But the lead of the Bulldogs could have been more if only they have been making their Free Throws (53%).

The 1st quarter ended with a score of 24-15.

In the 2nd quarter, with the Tams still having problems with NUs zone defense, the Bulldogs again had an 11-point advantage, 28-17 with 8:23 left in the 2nd quarter.

With FEU shooting from the outside to create space for their interior players, they succeeded in cutting down the lead to just 8 with 5 minutes left in the quarter. Then, Coach Rico Perez told the Bulldogs in a time out to challenge the perimeter shots of FEU.

With NU still having an 11-point lead with 4:16 remaining, Coach Rico Perez was thrown out of the game after arguing with the referee about an out-of-bounds play by Dave Catamora that went FEUs way.

With its mentor gone, the Tams welcomed the opportunity and had a 6 point run to cut the lead down to just 7 with 2:40 minutes left before the close of the 1st half.

Turnovers started to plague the Bulldogs and closed the 1st half with FEU cutting its deficit to just 3, 45-42.

During halftime, Coach Rico Perez had the opportunity to remind the Bulldogs on what to do after the break. He stressed the following points: To be efficient in executing their 1-3-1 zone defense, to let FEU shoot from the outside because they are not a good perimeter shooting team (only 11% from 3-pioint land in the 1st half while NU made 50%) and prevent FEU from getting 2nd chance points.

2nd Half

With 6:18 left in the 3rd quarter, Miranda's 3-point shot finally gave FEU its 1st taste of the lead 50-49.

Then Mendoza, getting the ball down low and creating, put NU back on top, 54-51 with 4:37 left in the 3rd.

FEU took the lead again, 54-56 with 3:06 remaining but Mendoza's relentless pursuit off the boards tied the ball game at 56-all by converting 2 both his charities.

With just 29 seconds left, Edwin Asoro hit a clutch 3 pointer to give NU a 4-point lead, 61-57.

The 3rd quarter ended with NU still on top by 4 with a score of 63-59.

In the final quarter, FEU continues to miss from the outside and could not get inside position but finally got one from Arwind Santos off a miss by Paul Flores to give the lead back to FEU, 68-67 with 3:05 remaining in the 4th.

Back to Back 3's by Flores helped maintained the lead of FEU with a score of 73-69 with 1:38 remaining.

But NU was able to cut the lead down to 1 with 23 seconds left courtesy of 3 free throws made by Jonathan Fernandez off a foul in an attempt from beyond the arc.

Then NU was given a chance to win the game by a 3-pointer. Assistant Coach Tolentino created a decoy play by disguising a 3-point attempt off a staggered screen. But Fernandez saw an opening, made a strong move to the basket and received the in-bounds pass. Fernandez was fouled in the act of shooting and made both free throws to send the game into overtime at 76-all.

In Overtime

Mendoza hit a 3-pointer to open the Overtime period with a score of 79-76.

FEU then came roaring back to tie the ballgame at 81-all with 2:15 left in overtime.

From here on, it was the battle of the go-to-guys for both teams. Arwind Santos and Rey Mendoza exchanged baskets in the process tying the game twice - 83-all and then at 85-all.

NU had a chance to win the game when Mendoza got the 5th personal foul of Arwind Santos with FEU in penalty. But Mendoza missed 2 potential game winners.

Don Yabut got the rebound off another attempt by Mendoza off his free throw miss. And with less than 2 seconds remaining and NU in penalty, the referee called a "ticky tack" on Edwin Asoro to send Don Yabut to the free throw line and only made 1 of 2.

2nd Overtime

I wish I could write about it. But we were denied of the excitement. Please next time let them play.

The Scores :

FEU 86 -- Santos 28, Miranda 17, Chan 12, Rizada 6, Isip 6, Flores 6, Yabut 3, Mangahas 3, Villanueva 2, Adolfo 2, Dela Cruz 1, Santiago 0, Barcellano 0, Babilonia 0.

NU 85 -- Mendoza 28, Asoro 13, D. Catamora 10, Fernandez 8, King 7, Estolano 6, Balijon 6, Mollena 4, Flor 3, Malcontento 0, Moradas 0, Malagueno 0, C. Catamora 0.

Quarters: 15-24, 42-45, 58-63, 76-76, 86-85.