Far Eastern University-Diliman retained its hold on the UAAP High School Boys’ 3×3 Basketball crown and completed a clean sweep of Season 87 after outlasting Migs Palanca and National University-Nazareth School, 16-15, on Sunday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.
Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas Junior Growling Tigresses captured a ‘golden double’ in the girls’ division after edging rivals NUNS Lady Bullpups, 14-13.
Over in the Junior High School boys’ division, the Ateneo Blue Eagles also completed a perfect sweep with a 22-19 (9:58) win over the UST Junior Tiger Cubs.
The Baby Tamaraws had to dig deep in the final stretch, with the game tied at 14-all under the final minute.
Cabs Cabonilas, the runner-up in the 5-on-5 MVP race, broke the deadlock with a clutch basket at the 27.3-second mark.
Following a missed attempt from Palanca, Liam Salangsang converted a layup to push FEU-D to a 16-14 edge.
Palanca responded with a quick score to cut the deficit to one and then sent Salangsang to the line with 4.1 seconds left.
However, Salangsang missed both free throws, leaving the door open.
Tom Pillado had a final look for the win, but his two-point attempt misfired, sealing the Baby Tamaraws’ title defense and NUNS’ second runner-up finish of the season.
“Siyempre, sobrang saya kasi ito yung pinaka-last tournament ko sa high school level. Nakabawi din kami sa loss namin nung 5-on-5,” said Boys’ MVP Salangsang, who tallied six points, including two deuces, in the final.
“Malaking bagay na last game ko sa high school, champion. Tsaka eto na yung last time namin na magsama-sama kaya masaya,” he added, referring to his final game with teammates and close friends Cabonilas, Marc Burgos, and Mico Pascual.
Cabonilas finished with a team-high seven points and seven rebounds.
On the other side, Macmac Alfanta led the Bullpups with nine points and eight rebounds, while Palanca added six points and seven boards.
FEU-D and NUNS booked their respective finals tickets after defeating Adamson (19-17) and Ateneo (18-9), respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the girls’ division, Grade 10 guard Rhiane Perez delivered a gritty performance to steer UST to the championship.
With the game tied at 10-all and UST struggling to find the mark, Lea Pinuela put back a Kat Insoy miss with 2:07 left for the go-ahead basket. Perez then scored back-to-back baskets to stretch the lead to 13-10.
Although NUNS center Ashlyn Abong trimmed the lead to 14-13, Barby Dajao secured the game-winning rebound off a missed shot by Perez as the buzzer sounded.
“Hindi po namin inexpect ito. Yung hard work lang talaga namin, nag-pay off. Never kami naging overconfident. Yung NU, hindi nag-give up kaya kami, hindi din nag-give up. Nilaban talaga namin,” said Perez, who registered three points and pulled down nine rebounds.
Dajao, a graduating senior and now a two-time MVP, finished with five points, while Pinuela and Insoy chipped in three apiece.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the Junior High School boys’ final, Sky Jazul caught fire, draining four deuces en route to 11 points and leading Ateneo to its first-ever high school 3×3 title.
“Thankful na we were given the opportunity to play here and to experience a 3×3 tournament. We just focused on the game and fight for Ateneo,” said the son of Letran great RJ Jazul, who won the MVP crown in the division.
“Nakakapagod po siya compared to 5-on-5,” the 14-year-old added.
In a closely contested battle against the Junior Tiger Cubs, 5-on-5 MVP Zane Kallos stepped up, converting an and-one to give Ateneo an 18-16 advantage.
Despite efforts from Andwele Cabanero to keep UST within striking distance, Kallos nailed a two-pointer to put Ateneo on championship point.
After Jhon Canapi answered with a deuce to keep UST alive, Jazul sealed the deal with another two-pointer with 2.0 seconds remaining, completing Ateneo’s 9-0 sweep of the tournament.
Kallos finished with seven points and 10 rebounds.
UST was led by Canapi with seven points, while Migs Jubilado and Cabanero added six and five, respectively.
Ateneo booked its finals spot with a 21-18 win over UPIS, while UST edged FEU-D, 21-19, in the other semifinal.
UPIS clinched third place in the JHS boys’ tournament with a 22-20 win over FEU-D.
In the girls’ division, De La Salle Zobel claimed bronze with an 18-3 rout of Ateneo.
Adamson finished third in the boys’ division after a 17-14 victory, also over Ateneo.
The Scores:
HS Boys Final
FEU-D 16 – Cabonilas 7, Salangsang 6, Burgos 3, Pascual 0.
NUNS 15 – Alfanta 9, Palanca 6, Usop 0, Pillado 0.
HS Girls Final
UST 14 – Dajao 5, Perez 3, Pinuela 3, Insoy 3.
NUNS 13 – Abong 8, Rosano 4, Lapasaran 1, Mallari 0.
JHS Boys Final
Ateneo 22 – Jazul 11, Kallos 7, Lacsamana 4, Molina 0.
UST 19 – Canapi 7, Jubilado 6, Cabanero 5, Bathan 1.
Time: Jazul 2 (9:58)
HS Boys 3rd Place Game
ADU 17 – Esperanza 6, Sajili 6, Abayon 3, Medina 2.
Ateneo 14 – Urbina 6, Leal 6, Asistio 1, Espinas 1.
HS Girls 3rd Place Game
DLSZ 18 – De Luna 7, Navarro 7, Cordero 4, Martinez 0.
Ateneo 3 – Templo 3, Molina 0, Gozum 0, Exconde 0.
Time: Cordero 2 (9:32)
JHS Boys 3rd Place Game
UPIS 22 – Tubongbanua 9, Hallare 9, Poquiz 4, Rosete 0.
FEU-D 20 – Lopez 8, Carino 6, Santos 4, Miranda 2.
HS Boys Semis 1
FEU-D 19 – Cabonillas 7, Salangsang 7, Burgos 5, Pascual 0.
ADU 17 – Esperanza 11, Medina 6, Sajili 0, Abayon 0.
HS Boys Semis 2
NUNS 18 – Alfanta 11, Palanca 4, Pillado 2, Usop 1.
Ateneo 9 – Urbina 3, Leal 3, Asistio 3, Espinas 0.
JHS Boys Semis 1
Ateneo 21 – Jazul 10, Lacsamana 5, Kallos 4, Molina 2.
UPIS 18 – Hallare 11, Tubongbanua 7, Poquiz 0, Rosete 0.
Time: Jazul (8:12)
JHS Boys Semis 2
UST 21 – Cabanero 7, Canapi 7, Jubilado 4, Bathan 3.
FEU-D 19 – Lopez 11, Dulin 5, Carino 3, Miranda 0.
Time: Cabanero FT (9:59.6)
