Far Eastern University-Diliman handed University of the East its first loss in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Boys’ Tournament, delivering a stunning 81-66 victory on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Baby Tamaraws snapped the Junior Warriors’ 12-game winning streak and ensured that the next round of the tournament would follow a Final Four format.
Already securing spots in the Final Four are UE (12-1), FEU-D (10-2), and University of Santo Tomas, which clinched the third ticket earlier in the day with a dominant 72-50 win over De La Salle-Zobel.
Meanwhile, National University-Nazareth School, DLSZ, and Ateneo remain in contention for the last semifinal berth. NUNS bolstered its chances by narrowly defeating Ateneo, 77-76, in the second game of the day.
The Baby Tamaraws avenged their first-round loss to the Junior Warriors (82-74) with a confidence-boosting performance.
“Ang lagi lang namin sinasabi sa mga bata ay maglaro ng tama, pero against UE, dagdagan niyo yung aggressiveness,” said FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia.
FEU-D’s aggressiveness showed after halftime. Leading by just six points, 43-37, at the break, the trio of Anton Lopez, Duke Santos, and Denden Enriquez spearheaded a 17-3 third-quarter run that extended their lead to 60-40.
“Yung goal lang namin as a team talaga is hindi payagan mag-sweep yung UE. Kailangan namin manalo dito kasi mawawalan kami ng advantage,” said Lopez, who recorded an impressive stat line of 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting, 12 assists, and four steals.
FEU-D’s defense held strong in the final frame, with Lakay Pasinos and Mark Dulin countering every UE rally to seal the win.
“Ang sabi namin, hindi natin puwede padikitin yung UE dahil hindi gumi-give up yung UE na yan. Putulin na natin yung pagsubok na gagawin nila,” Garcia added.
FEU-D’s balanced attack was led by Prince Cariño with 16 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and a block.
Santos added 13 points on three triples, while Dulin and Pasinos chipped in 11 points each. Pasinos also grabbed 14 boards.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
For UE, Jolo Pascual delivered his usual output with 20 points, and Jared Ferreros contributed 14 points off the bench.
However, the team struggled offensively, with Mav Mesina and Enrico Bungar combining for just two points on 1-of-10 shooting. Kiefer Panganiban and Gab Delos Reyes added eight and seven points, respectively.
The Tiger Cubs, meanwhile, dominated the Junior Green Archers, going on a 23-8 start and gaining a lead that went to as high as 24 points, 72-48.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
It was the revenge win UST head coach Noli Mejos had been seeking for his squad after their stunning 83-80 loss to DLSZ back on September 29.
“Lahat ng pinrepare namin para sa Zobel, nakita namin. Pinaghandaan namin yung defense, pero pati yung offense nag-click,” said Mejos.
Fifteen-year-old prospect Miguel Jubilado starred for UST, tallying 19 points and 18 rebounds in his best performance of the season.
Jhon Canapi and Andwele Cabanero combined for 29 points and 16 rebounds to complement Jubilado’s effort.
“Sobrang happy kami kasi sa lahat ng sinacrifice namin, ito na yung result,” said Mejos.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
For DLSZ, Jayden Centeno was the only Archer in double figures with 11 points.
Vince Magan and Melvin Tailan struggled, shooting a combined 5-of-28 from the field and scoring nine and eight points, respectively.
DLSZ will fight for dear life on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena against NUNS while Ateneo will also do so against UST.
The Scores:
Third Game:
UST 72 – Jubilado 19, Canapi 17, Cabanero 12, Bathan 8, Guinto 5, Villacarlos 4, Castro 3, Balague 2, Duenas 2, Guerrero 0, Javier 0, Aguilar 0.
DLSZ 50 – Centeno 11, Magan 9, Tailan 8, Llamas 7, Luna 6, Apao 5, Tan 2, Mindanao 2, Purugganan E. 0, Rivera 0, Villaruz 0, Parugganan I. 0, Fuentes 0.
Quarterscores: 23-8, 42-20, 55-35, 72-50.
Fourth Game:
FEU-D 81 – Lopez 19, Carino 16, Santos 13, Dulin 11, Pasinos 11, Enriquez 6, Miranda 5, Lassiter 0, Pingris 0, Adriano 0, Diaz 0, Pineda 0.
UE 66 – Pascual 20, Ferreros 14, Panganiban 8, Delos Reyes 7, Garcia 4, Oraa 4, Okebata 4, Orca 3, Mesina 2, Bungar 0.
Quarterscores: 23-20, 43-37, 60-55, 81-66.
