Far Eastern University-Diliman finally cracked Ateneo de Manila University, taking a dominant 111-73 victory to claim the twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Basketball Final Four on Wednesday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Prior to this game, the Baby Tamaraws had lost both of their elimination round outings against the Blue Eagles — bowing 90-71 last January 14 and suffering a heartbreaking 86-82 overtime defeat last Sunday.
First-year Baby Tams head coach Mike Reyes was glad to finally see FEU-D triumph over Ateneo.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“It’s really important kasi if we fall 0-3 against Ateneo, medyo mahirap na ma-convince ang players that we can beat them,” said Reyes, a two-time high school boys’ champion coach with Ateneo back in the 1990s.
It was a strong all-around outing for the Baby Tamaraws, racing to a 20-10 opening quarter while limiting the Blue Eagles to a horrid 4-of-14 shooting from the field.
The Blue Eagles — outside of Jude Eriobu, who had 35 points on 12-of-16 shooting with 16 rebounds and five blocks — never got going. The rest of the Ateneo team shot just 15-of-50 from the field.
Noah Banal found himself held to just four points on 1-of-8 shooting. Jay M. Leal scored six points on 2-of-6 shooting, while Zane Kallos managed four points on 2-of-9 shooting.
FEU-D closed the game with a 40-point final quarter, pushing its lead to a game-high 41 points.
“We’re satisfied na na-achieve namin ang objective namin: 40 minutes of playing well,” said Reyes.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Cabs Cabonilas, the presumptive MVP, led the way with 28 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, four steals, and three blocks.
Dwayne Enriquez added 19 points on three triples, while JB Cagurungan contributed 13 points. Yosef Raneses added 12 points and seven assists.
However, FEU-D will be without 17-year-old guard Pat Sohm for the Final Four opener on Sunday at the same Katipunan venue at 11:00 AM, after he received two technical fouls with just 10 seconds left in the first half.
“Medyo na-off lang ang coaches dahil yung intensity ng players, yung celebration. We have to learn to control our emotions. Siguro kasi dahil sa eagerness nila to win, but we still have to learn it,” said Reyes.
The other semis pairing will see top seed National University Nazareth School take on De La Salle-Zobel at 1:00 PM, also on Sunday.
The Scores:
FEU-D 111 –Cabonilas 28, Enriquez 19, Cagurungan 13, Rañeses 12, Burgos 9, Esperanza 8, Hall 6, Santos 5, Alagaban 5, Cariño 2, Gaye 2, Dagcutan 0, Sohm 0, Santos 0.
Ateneo 73 – Eriobu 35, Espinas 6, Leal 6, Jazul 6, Banal 5, Kallos 4, Juangco 4, Madrangca 3, Tamayo 2, Molina 2, Kaw 0, Gatmaitan 0.
Quarterscores: 20-10, 50-39, 71-49, 111-73.
