Far Eastern University-Diliman returned to the win column with a 77-69 rout of University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 89 16-and-under basketball tournament on Tuesday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
After snapping their two-game losing streak, the Baby Tamaraws improved to 4-2 and moved into solo third place in the standings.
“It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish the season. It’s a long season, so we have to be consistent. And we need fewer turnovers, fewer mistakes,” said FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia.
Griffin Barlan led the Baby Tamaraws with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, shooting an impressive 8-of-11 from the field.
Nicus Calma nearly matched the feat with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Bernard Alsola and Hisham Mampao added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
It was an all-around effort from FEU-D, which collectively dished out 19 assists compared to UST’s nine.
“Sabi ko sa kanila to keep their composure and focus on the game plan. ‘Wag kayong mawawala, ako ang bahalang mag-rotate sa inyo. Makukuha natin ‘yan, be patient,” Garcia added.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Following a Wayne Anggot layup that pulled the Tiger Cubs within two, the Baby Tamaraws answered with an 11-2 run to take control in the third quarter.
FEU-D continued to pull away, building its biggest lead of the game at 62-46 for a 13-point swing.
UST responded at the start of the final period, sparked by Nathan Bathan’s layup at the end of the third quarter.
The Tiger Cubs trimmed the deficit to five, 62-57, after holding the Baby Tamaraws scoreless for the first three minutes of the fourth.
FEU-D then regained its footing, with Mampao, Calma, and Barlan providing timely baskets to keep UST at bay and secure the victory.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Later in the day, the Battle of Katipunan lived up to its billing as Kean Poquiz’s game-winning three-pointer lifted University of the Philippines Integrated School past Ateneo de Manila University, 64-61.
The Junior Fighting Maroons secured their second win of the season, immediately bouncing back from their 86-57 loss to the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers last Saturday.
After Chris Llavore tied the game at 61-all with 23 seconds remaining, Poquiz called for an isolation on the other end.
With two Ateneo defenders closing in, Poquiz calmly banked in the go-ahead three-pointer with 1.5 seconds left to put UPIS ahead.
The Junior Fighting Maroons then relied on their stifling defense to force Karl Gandionco into a difficult attempt from well beyond the arc, which airballed as time expired.
“Ateneo did a really good job in executing the last two minutes, but then again, Kean just saved us in the end,” said UPIS head coach King Vergeire.
Zandro Lugatiman posted a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Junior Fighting Maroons, while Poquiz added 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
UPIS flipped the script in the third quarter, erasing Ateneo’s five-point lead with a 13-0 run that lasted nearly the entire period.
Gandionco finally ended the drought with a three-pointer, but the Junior Fighting Maroons still entered the final canto with a 50-42 advantage.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Pedro Santos’ layup gave UPIS its biggest lead of the game at 12, 61-49, but Ateneo refused to go quietly.
The Blue Eagles completely erased the deficit and held the Junior Fighting Maroons scoreless for nearly six minutes before Poquiz delivered the game-winning shot.
“I’m positive, even though it showed that we have a lot to work on. But then again, I won’t discredit our victory today,” Vergeire added. “But we have a lot to work on coming into our next game against FEU.”
The Tiger Cubs, who had previously been part of a three-way tie for third, slipped to fifth with a 3-3 record.
Ateneo, meanwhile, remained winless after six games following the heartbreaking loss.
For UST, Anggot led all scorers with 23 points, while Miguel Austria posted a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Llavore also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Gandionco finished with 17 points and five rebounds for the Blue Eagles.
The Scores:
First Game:
FEU-D 77 – Calma 17, Barlan 16, Alsola 14, Mampao 12, Cruz 9, Samonte 4, Ira 3, Maghinay 2, Madrigal 0, Isip 0, Garcia 0, Castro 0, Vale 0, Cortes 0, Manaloto 0.
UST 69 – Anggot 23, Austria 17, Macasarte 7, Abototo 6, Duenas 5, Retaga 3, Bathan 2, Collado 2, Cuello 2, Umbana 2, Eusebio 0, Cabanero 0.
Quarterscores: 19-14, 39-34, 62-48, 77-69.
Second Game:
UPIS 64 – Lugatiman 23, Poquiz 14, Floirendo 9, David 7, Bautista 5, Santos 4, Labao 2, Sebastian 0, Romey 0.
Ateneo 61 – Gandionco 17, Llavore 16, Ylen 9, Nuque-Bautista 8, Bayona 8, Dela Cruz 2, Fresnido 1, Molina 0, Dolera 0, Saw 0, Beley 0.
Quarterscores: 20-14, 30-33, 50-42, 64-61.
