Ateneo de Manila University and Far Eastern University–Diliman turned in parallel performances to close the first round of the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament as joint first placers on Sunday morning at the Adamson Gym in Manila.
The Blue Eagles leaned on a dominant 31-point double-double from Nigerian center Jude Eriobu to rout the University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons, 96-70, and return to the win column.
Meanwhile, Khean Esperanza and Adi Alagaban delivered breakout outings as the Baby Tamaraws outlasted the Baby Falcons, 83-76, to claim their fifth straight victory.
Ateneo and FEU-D both remained on top with identical 6-1 records, though the Blue Eagles hold the tiebreaker after dealing the Baby Tamaraws a wire-to-wire 90-71 defeat in their first-round meeting last January 14 at the Filoil Centre.
“We’re happy with the win, pero we’re not satisfied with how we played,” Blue Eagles head coach Bacon Austria said. “We cannot play at this level and intensity namin to start every game because teams are keeping up at us. Happy with the win, but not satisfied with how we won today.”
An Eriobu layup and a Zane Kallos three-pointer gave Ateneo an early 49-34 lead early in the third quarter, but Zandro Lugatiman sparked a rally by drilling four consecutive triples to trim UPIS’ deficit to 49-46 with over six minutes left in the frame.
The Nigerian center quickly reasserted control alongside Noah Banal, as Eriobu poured in 14 points while the 6-foot-2 guard added eight during a decisive 22-5 surge. The run pushed the Blue Eagles ahead, 71-51, entering the payoff period.
Ateneo stayed firmly in the driver’s seat in the fourth quarter, with back-to-back Ethan Kaw layups, a triple and an inside hit by Renzo Gatmaitan, and an Audwyn Tamayo midrange jumper keeping UPIS buried in an 86-57 hole with 5:27 remaining.
Eriobu finished with 31 points on 14-of-18 shooting, along with 13 rebounds and one steal.
Kaw added 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting, two rebounds, and two assists, while Jay-M Leal chipped in 11 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Banal posted 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one block, while Henry Madrangca contributed eight points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Despite being limited to three points on 1-of-7 shooting, Kallos orchestrated the offense with 11 assists, three rebounds, and two steals in the 26-point win.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the second game, Adamson pulled within one at 48-47 midway through the third quarter before Alagaban knocked down a triple and Marc Burgos followed with back-to-back threes to fuel a decisive 13-1 run that gave FEU-D a 61-48 cushion.
A layup by Esperanza stretched the Baby Tamaraws’ lead to 78-64 with exactly four minutes remaining, but consecutive baskets by Kieff Iledan and Bill Garcia trimmed the gap to 78-70 with 2:55 left.
FEU-D answered with poise, as Burgos split his free throws, Cabs Cabonilas converted a layup, and Alagaban drilled another three-pointer to restore an insurmountable 83-71 lead with 1:58 to play.
“I feel we lacked aggressiveness when we started the game, pero start of the third, we were more aggressive on defense ‘eh. ‘Yon nga pinag-usapan namin sa dugout, hindi pwede ganito sa UAAP. All the seven teams can win at any time,” Baby Tamaraws head coach Mike Reyes said.
Esperanza led FEU-D with 19 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists, while Burgos matched him with 19 points and eight rebounds.
Alagaban added 15 points on five triples, along with two rebounds and one steal, while Cabonilas recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists, one steal, and one block.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Mac Jenodia paced Adamson in the loss with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Iledan flirted with a double-double after finishing with 16 points, nine rebounds, and one assist.
Jarl Artango chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block before exiting the game.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UPIS, Bruce Tubongbanua led the way with 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and one steal, while Lugatiman tallied 22 points, seven rebounds, four steals, two assists, and one block.
Jhustin Hallare was held to nine points on 3-of-10 shooting and committed five turnovers, but still grabbed nine rebounds and dished out two assists.
The Scores:
First Game:
Ateneo (96) – Eriobu 31, Kaw 13, Leal 11, Banal 10, Madrangca 8, Tamayo 7, Gatmaitan 5, Kallos 3, Reyes 3, Jazul 2, Espinas 1, Juangco 1, Magpoc 1, Lacsamana 0, Aquino 0.
UPIS (70) – Tubongbanua 25, Lugatiman 22, Hallare 9, Poquiz 5, Labao 4, Addatu 3, M. Rosete 2, Hernandez 0, Manguerra 0, J. Rosete 0, Cobico 0, Ryan 0.
Quarterscores: 19-13. 37-29, 71-51, 96-70.
Second Game:
FEU-D (83) – Esperanza 19, Burgos 19, Alagaban 15, Cabonilas 13, Hall 5, J. Santos 4, Cagurungan 3, Sohm 2, Gaye 2, Raneses 1, Dagcutan 0, Enriquez 0, Dulin 0.
AdU (76) – Jenodia 16, Iledan 16, Artango 13, Garcia 9, Flores 7, Gomez 7, Frogoso 5, Saygo 2, Bautista 1, Babad 0.
Quarterscores: 17-18, 37-37, 61-52, 83-76.
