The Tamaraws came as close as five points, 70-65, after a run to start the final period, but UST came alive, and Renzo Subido made the dagger trey to give the Tigers a comfortable lead, 78-65, with 1:29 left.
FEU's Ken Tuffin answered with his own triple to keep the Tams in the game just five seconds afer the Subido shot. Another three from Xyrus Torres gave FEU better chances to steal the game with 39 ticks remaining, 78-71.
The game got physical with both Alec Stockton and Brent Paraiso being called for unsportsmanlike foul with less than 30 seconds left, but the freebies from Zach Huang and Paraiso settled the final score.
It was all UST in the first half, opening the game with a 10-2 run, eventually ending the first twenty minutes of action with a whooping 26-point advantage, 54-28. The Tamaraws dominated the third period, 28-16, to cut their deficit heading into the fourth quarter, 70-56.
Things turned salty minutes before the end of the first half with the ejection of Barkley Eboña after making a disqualifying foul against league MVP Soulemane Chabiyo.
Chabiyo led UST with 25 points, 19 were made in the first half.
Both FEU and UST ended their elimination round campaign with eight wins and six losses, enough to make it to the Final Four.
With the win, the España-based squad will face the University of the Philippines in the semis, which holds the twice-to-beat advantage.
The winner of the series vs UP will face Ateneo in the Finals.
The semis match will happen Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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