Dwyne Miranda and the Baby Tamaraws fulfilled their promise for Far Eastern University-Diliman last Sunday.
Despite falling short in their title defense in the UAAP Season 86 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament, the Baby Tamaraws more than compensated in the 3×3 tournament.
FEU-D emerged victorious in dominant fashion, going on a nine-game rampage en route to becoming the inaugural champions of the division.
“Sobrang masaya kasi hindi namin na-achieve yung goal na ito sa five-on-five ‘di ba? At least naka-champion kami sa 3×3,” said Grade 11 Tamaraw Miranda.
Veejay Pre maintained his dominant form even in the halfcourt game, averaging 8.75 points and 8.25 rebounds per game. He was named the tournament MVP.
However, it was the collective efforts of Miranda (4.0 points), Jedric Daa (5.63), and Jiro Mecha (1.43) that made the Baby Tamaraws a formidable trio.
“Yung fuel na na-build up sa 5-on-5, kami nila Jiro, Jedric, at Veejay, nag-usap kami bago ng 3×3 para makuha namin ito. Sobrang saya na na-achieve namin yung goal namin,” added Miranda.
(C) Yvan Martinez and Patrick Pampilon/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Making the championship even sweeter for Miranda is that he was able to help Pre and Daa secure a championship before they embark on their next chapters with the Tamaraws.
“Sobrang saludo ako sa dalawang yun na champion sila bago sila umakyat sa seniors. Ayaw nila umalis sa high school na talo. Nabigay namin yung best namin para sa kanila,” expressed Miranda.
For his part, Miranda will have a significant decision to make in the next couple of weeks.
Turning 20 next year, the 5-foot-11 guard, who is the son of FEU Head of Basketball Operations Denok, will be over-age for the UAAP high school boys’ tournament next season.
This was a result of the pandemic, when he transferred from NU-Nazareth to FEU-Diliman.
And so for his Grade 12 year, Dwyne is considering spending his ‘gap year’ at an NCAA school.
The NCAA Juniors Basketball Tournament is an under-20 tournament.
“Wala pa po akong desisyon sa school pero soon,” he said.
“Gusto ko lang mas patibayin pa skills ko for one more year bago ako bumalik sa FEU.”
Some of the schools he is considering are Letran and Perpetual Help.
And once he returns to FEU, he will undoubtedly be stronger.
