Marc Burgos drilled the go-ahead triple in the final 68 seconds as Far Eastern University-Diliman averted a collapse against defending champion University of Santo Tomas, 84-81, to secure a playoff for a Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament, Saturday morning at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
After Simon Pulongbarit’s triple tied the game at 81-all with 1:32 remaining, the Baby Tamaraws responded immediately. Burgos narrowly beat the shot clock with a high-arcing three-pointer that sealed the game and FEU-D’s bounce-back victory after a loss to the National University Nazareth School Bullpups last Wednesday.
In the earlier game, Ateneo de Manila University exacted revenge against lone first-round tormentor Adamson University, 88-65, to strengthen its hold on solo third place and return emphatically to the win column.
With the separate victories, the Baby Tamaraws are now guaranteed a playoff for a semifinals slot with a 9-2 record. Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles remain within striking distance of a top-two finish at 8-3 in this tournament, which is in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission.
On the other hand, the Final Four aspirations of both the Tiger Cubs and the Baby Falcons suffered further setbacks. Both the teams dropped to a tie for seventh place with identical 4-7 records.
As of publishing, the Bullpups are set to face the University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons at 12:00 PM, while the De La Salle Zobel Green Archers and University of the East Junior Warriors meet at 2:00 PM.
“We’re satisfied that we pulled the game through, but even if we were up by double-digits, I was always aware and lagi ako aware that UST has the capability na makabalik,” FEU-D head coach Mike Reyes said.
“Lagi nakakabalik ang UST, pero nagpapasalamat lang ako na we were able to deliver and we were able to counter when [UST] got the lead.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
With the Baby Tamaraws up 55-37 early in the third quarter, the Tiger Cubs mounted a dominant 21-6 run that trimmed the lead to as low as 61-58. Four free throws by Prince Cariño and an Adi Alagaban triple restored a 71-62 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
FEU-D appeared poised to pull away as a Sam Hall layup pushed the lead to 75-70 with 5:26 remaining, but UST answered with a clutch 8-1 run — highlighted by a layup and triple from co-captain Charles Esteban — to take a slim 78-76 lead with 2:57 left.
The Baby Tamaraws, however, had the final word as Burgos’ go-ahead triple capped a game-sealing 8-3 run. FEU-D then survived Esperanza’s missed free throws as Kirk Cañete misfired on a potential game-tying three-pointer.
JB Cagurungan led FEU-D with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, along with four rebounds and three steals, while Cabs Cabonilas added 15 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks.
Cariño finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, and Burgos contributed 13 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, and one steal.
For UST, Cañete led the way with 21 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals, while Jetlee Melano, Nigerian center Ola Ajani, and Jhon Canapi each added 13 points.
Pulongbarit chipped in 10 points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ateneo turned a slim 43-36 second-quarter lead into a comfortable 56-42 halftime advantage behind a late surge from Unri Madrangca, Ethan Kaw, Nigerian center Jude Eriobu, and Zane Kallos.
The Blue Eagles carried their momentum into the third quarter, scoring 15 points — sealed by one free throw each from Kallos and Kaw, along with a Jay-M Leal layup — while holding the Baby Falcons to just five points to enter the fourth quarter with a commanding 71-47 lead.
“It was a character game for us. Coming off a really bad loss against La Salle, where we had zero energy and a bad start. It’s a character game for us, and it’s crucial also for us para may buffer kami doon sa teams na dikit-dikit,” Ateneo head coach Bacon Austria said, applauding his team’s recovery from a 73-77 first-round loss to Adamson and a shocking defeat to De La Salle Zobel last Wednesday.
Eriobu powered the Blue Eagles with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 18 rebounds, and three blocks. Audwyn Tamayo provided a spark off the bench with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
Leal added 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block, while Kallos finished with 11 points, four assists, and two rebounds. Kaw rounded out Ateneo’s balanced attack with nine points, three assists, two rebounds, one steal, and one block.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For the Baby Falcons, Jarl Artango led with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Fran Flores also had 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Mac Jenodia managed nine points on 3-of-13 shooting, and Kevin Frogoso and Chrys Gomez contributed six points each.
The Scores:
First Game:
Ateneo (88) – Eriobu 19, Tamayo 16, Leal 13, Kallos 11, Kaw 9, Gatmaitan 7, Banal 6, Madrangca 3, Reyes 2, Magpoc 2, Espinas 0, Juangco 0, Molina 0.
AdU (65) – Artango 11, Flores 11, Jenodia 9, Frogoso 6, Gomez 6, Matillano 5, Babad 4, Bautista 4, Garcia 4, Fongtong 2, Alcartado 2, Gonzales 1, Saygo 0, Eiman 0.
Quarterscores: 28-19, 56-42, 71-47, 88-65.
Second Game:
FEU-D (84) – Cagurungan 17, Cabonilas 15, Carino 14, Burgos 13, Hall 8, Esperanza 6, Raneses 4, Gaye 4, Alaban 3, Sohm 0, Dagcutan 0.
UST (81) – Canete 21, Melano 13, Ajani 13, Canapi 13, Pulongbarit 10, Esteban 5, Bohol 2, Bathan 2, Lapastora 1, Ludovice 1, Sta. Maria 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 47-36, 71-62, 84-81.
