FAR Eastern University-Diliman secured a semifinal berth in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ 3×3 Basketball Tournament after outlasting National University Nazareth School in overtime, 18-16, Friday at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.
Earlier in the day, the Baby Tamaraws leaned on Marc Burgos’ 10-point effort to tame the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs. They followed it up with a gritty performance against a redemption-seeking Bullpups squad, digging deep for an overtime triumph.
Thomas Pillado forced the extra period with a clutch deuce, but timely inside baskets from Liam Salangsang and Cabs Cabonilas helped FEU-D preserve their perfect 6-0 record heading into the final day of eliminations of this tournament that is supported by Molten.
“Basta kami, bawat laro binibigay lang namin yung best namin. Tulad nung last 3×3 kung saan nagchampion ang FEU-D, ‘yon din yung pinaghuhugutan namin na dahilan para mas magperform kami nang maganda. Bibigay lang talaga namin yung lahat ng makakaya namin,” said Burgos, who tallied seven points and six rebounds in the win over NUNS.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Over in the girls’ division, reigning 5-on-5 champion Junior Tigresses and defending 3×3 titlists Lady Bullpups booked a final rematch after dominant wins.
UST routed Ateneo, 21-4, with 2:52 still left on the clock, while NUNS cruised past De La Salle Zobel, 21-10, with 1:48 remaining.
Season 87 5-on-5 MVP Barby Dajao led the Junior Growling Tigresses with an all-around performance: nine points on 8-of-10 shooting, six steals, five rebounds, and five assists.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
For NUNS, Gilas Youth guard Aubrey Lapasaran paced the Lady Bullpups with 10 points and four rebounds.
“Masaya kami na makakaabot kami sa Finals, pero siguro sign din ito na para mas mag-improve kami and mag-adjust para mag-ready sa Finals. Tulad ng ginawa namin noon sa 5-on-5, bubuhos ulit namin lahat para makauwi ulit kami ng championship sa UST,” said the 19-year-old Dajao.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the junior high school boys’ division, Ateneo de Manila stayed perfect at 6-0 to punch their ticket to the semifinals, beating UE (16-12) and DLSZ (21-17).
Fourteen-year-old Sky Jazul continued his scoring tear, posting seven points and four rebounds against the Junior Warriors before exploding for 12 points and two rebounds in the win over the Junior Archers.
“This is a redemption stage for us talaga kasi gigil na gigil kami para makabawi. Lalo na nung Season 87 sa 5-on-5, hindi kami nakapasok sa Final Four both sa junior high school division and sa boys’ division. Yung goal namin dito talaga rito is mag-compete, and blessing na rin sa amin na makapasok sa Final Four,” said Season 87 Junior High School 5-on-5 MVP Zane Kallos.
Adamson and Ateneo ended the day tied for second place at 4-2, while UST and NUNS hold identical 3-3 records, setting up a crucial matchup at 11:20 a.m. on Saturday to close out the preliminaries.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Mark Esperanza bounced back from a 16-19 loss to NUNS in the morning by pouring in nine points and four rebounds in a 20-16 win over the also-ran UE Junior Warriors.
Ateneo’s boys’ squad also rebounded from a morning defeat to UE (11-16), edging out rival DLSZ, 21-17, behind Chris Urbina’s 11-point, four-rebound effort.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST, meanwhile, eliminated the UP Fighting Maroons from playoff contention with a 21-20 nail-biter, thanks to Charles Bucsit’s 11-point, four-rebound performance.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
NUNS also split their Day 4 games, leaning on Migs Palanca’s seven points and six rebounds to dispatch Adamson, 19-16, earlier in the day.
UPIS (2-4), DLSZ (1-5), and UE (1-5) have all been eliminated from the semifinal race.
With Friday’s results, the Final Four in the junior high school boys’ division is now set: FEU-D, UST, and UPIS—each carrying 4-2 records—join unbeaten Ateneo in the semifinals.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Anton Lopez proved clutch for FEU-D, sinking game-winning deuces in their victories over the Tiger Cubs (21-18) and the Bullpups (18-16).
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST forced the three-way tie for second after riding Jhon Canapi’s eight-point, three-rebound effort to beat UPIS, 21-18.
Reigning 5-on-5 champion UE (3-3), NUNS (2-4), DLSZ (1-5), and Adamson (0-6) have bowed out of the knockout semifinal race.
