Far Eastern University's Janrey Pasaol attempts for a shot in their UAAP Season 88 affair against University of Santo Tomas, November 26, 2025. UAAP Media
MANILA — Far Eastern University's Janrey Pasaol is one proud Tamaraw as he saw his team perform better in the second round of the UAAP Season 88 collegiate men's basketball tournament.
Pasaol lauded his team's growth after commencing the tourney with a 2-5 win-loss card, but turned things around with a 5-2 showing—beating Ateneo de Manila University, Adamson University, De La Salle University, University of the East, and their latest victim, University of Santo Tomas.
FEU managed to escape UST, 81-79, on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
READ: UAAP: FEU keeps slim Final 4 hopes alive by escaping UST
This showing allowed them to keep their Final Four bid alive at 7-7, but their tournament life now depends on the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry game later in the day.
They now need Ateneo (6-7) to defeat La Salle (7-6) to force a tie and playoffs for the last Final Four slot.
However, regardless of the results, Pasaol was beaming with pride as he commended his team, the FEU Tamaraws.
READ: UAAP: La Salle guns for Final 4 ticket, Ateneo fights for survival
"Siyempre ano eh, masaya kasi alam naman kung paano kami nagsimula. 'Yung growth namin as a team; siyempre sobrang bata pa namin dami pang... si Kirby [Mongcopa], 'yun, rookie pa lang, so sobrang saya kasi sino bang [mag-aakala] na magiging 7-7 kami, eh 2-5 kami nagsimula?" expressed Pasaol with passion.
"So 'yun, sobrang saya kasi nagbunga 'yung lahat ng paghihirap nitong second round kasi iniisip namin na may mga graduating pa kami, si Neil Owens, kakadating lang," he added. "So 'yun, nagbunga naman 'yung mga paghihirap namin ngayong season."
FEU had surpassed its win output last season, after finishing at 5-9 a year ago.