Far Eastern University-Diliman is back in the UAAP Junior High School Basketball Finals, but for Baby Tamaraws standout Prince Carino, returning is not enough—they’re aiming for the championship.
The 6-foot-6 Gilas Youth center believes FEU-D’s grueling journey through the stepladder playoffs has forged a team ready to challenge the undefeated National University Bullpups in the best-of-three series starting this Saturday, December 6, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The paths to the Finals could not be more different. NUNS secured an outright berth with a flawless elimination-round sweep, while FEU-D had to battle through tough opponents, toppling perennial contenders Adamson University and archrival University of Santo Tomas to punch their ticket to the championship.
“Itong laro na ito, or yung buong stepladder journey namin, naging daan para mas patibayin yung team namin,” Carino said after posting a dominant double-double of 21 points and 22 rebounds in FEU-D’s semifinal victory over UST Wednesday morning at the Big Dome.
“Ginising kami na mas kailangan pa namin maging hard worker kasi alam naman natin na hindi magiging madali yung sasapitin namin this Finals.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For Carino, those stepladder battles were more than just a test of skill—they helped the Baby Tamaraws sharpen their identity as a resilient, hardworking team.
“It’s a 50-50 ball game, pero kung naparamdam namin [sa UST] kung ano ang Tamaraws, ipaparamdam din namin sa NUNS,” he added confidently.
Head coach Muriel Garcia knows that mindset will be key in exorcising the ghosts of the past. The Baby Tamaraws’ title dreams were crushed in Season 86 when Rob Celiz’s buzzer-beater lifted the Bullpups to the crown. Now, under Garcia, FEU-D is determined not to repeat history.
“First, kailangan namin malimit sila. Kumpiyansa ako sa mga bata, basta magtrabaho lang sila. We’ll play 50-50 basketball on Saturday. Every possession counts. Pagaaralan namin kung ano yung mga small details lang sa huli na pagkakamali,” Garcia shared.
“Lagi ko sinasabi sa kanila na kung paano kayo bumagsak, kailangan matuto kayong bumangon — hindi lang sa basketball, pati sa buhay. Hindi pwede na bumagsak ka, doon ka na lang. Ang basketball ay parang gulong ‘yan ‘eh, minsan nasa ilalim ka, kaya kailangan gumawa ka ng paraan para umikot ulit.”
