FEU's Raymar Jose draws Mac Belo comparisons after 'monster game'

PASAY CITY, Philippines — Praise poured in for Far Eastern University's hard-working forward Raymar Jose after he anchored the Tamaraws' 62-61 victory over the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 79 Final Four on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Jose tallied 20 points and 23 rebounds, and single-handedly out-rebounded the entire Ateneo team, 11-8, in the pivotal fourth quarter. His relentless activity around the basket sparked FEU's comeback from a 10-point deficit and brought to mind the aggressive play of a former Tamaraw.

"I was seeing Mac Belo in him in this game," former FEU point guard Mike Tolomia told ABS-CBN News after the game. "When I played with Mac last year, (Jose) looked like Mac out there a while ago."

Tolomia and Belo were FEU's 1-2 punch in Season 78, when the Tamaraws went all the way to win the UAAP championship.

Belo was named Finals MVP of their series against University of Santo Tomas. He would go on to become a cornerstone of the Gilas Cadets program and be selected by Blackwater Elite in the recent PBA Rookie Draft.

Numbers indicate that Jose is a better rebounder than Belo who never averaged more than 7.6 rebounds per game in his UAAP career. This season, Jose pulled down 11 rebounds per contest — third in the league behind La Salle's Ben Mbala and Adamson's Papi Sarr.

But Jose's refusal to give up in the face of a fourth-quarter deficit and his ability to lead his teammates were also reminiscent of Belo.

"It was a monster game," said Tolomia. "You can see his heart in the way he plays. He really doesn't want to lose. I think his teammates followed his lead. He sort of carried them with his actions."

Former FEU forward Russel Escoto, who shared the Tamaraws frontcourt with Jose for a couple of seasons, agreed with Tolomia.

"That's been [Jose's] job," Escoto said. "I'm not surprised he's able to do the things he's doing. He really wants to win and I'm very proud of him. "

Tolomia and Escoto expect Jose to duplicate his feat in Wednesday's do-or-die game at the Araneta Coliseum. "I can see him getting more than rebounds easy," Tolomia said.

Jose credited his performance to sheer heart and a burning desire to extend his UAAP career.

"My heart, it doesn't want to go on a vacation yet. Whatever happens, I want us to keep fighting," he said.

"I try to focus on whatever I can do inside the paint and that's what I'll do. This is my last year so I need to double my effort, even triple it. I'm giving my all because I want to go back to the finals."

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