Far Eastern University-Diliman enters the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Boys’ Basketball Final Four on a six-game winning streak after defeating Ateneo de Manila University, 69-55, at the close of the elimination round on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Baby Tamaraws, who are second-seeded and hold the twice-to-beat advantage, will face third-seeded University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs in the Final Four on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
In the other matchup, top-seeded University of the East Junior Warriors will play against the inaugural champions, National University Nazareth School Bullpups.
The tip-off time for both games will be announced on Saturday evening.
Head coach Muriel Garcia called the win a perfect warm-up for the Baby Tamaraws as they head into the Final Four.
“Kung ano yung sakit na naramdaman namin sa second round, binabaon namin ‘yon at ginagawa naming experience ‘yon. Sinasabi ko na hindi ka naman mabubuhay sa dumaan na, pero sabi ko sa kanila, kung ano yung galit at inis natin, palitan natin ng trabaho at panalo sa Final Four,” said Garcia.
A string of consecutive three-pointers from Anton Lopez, Duke Santos, Denden Enriquez, and CP Miranda helped the Baby Tamaraws extend a slim 39-33 lead to a more comfortable 53-41 advantage heading into the final period.
FEU-Diliman sealed their sixth straight victory with an 11-0 run, pushing Ateneo into a game-high deficit of 68-49 with 4:06 remaining.
Powered by Prince Carino, Kierdy Victoria, Lopez, and Miranda, the Baby Tamaraws finished strong.
Lopez led the way with 16 points, two steals, one rebound, and one assist. Victoria added nine points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals, finishing with a game-high plus-21 efficiency in just 15 minutes and 56 seconds of play.
Santos contributed eight points, four assists, and one rebound, while Mark Dulin came close to a double-double, finishing with seven points, 14 rebounds, two steals, and one block.
Ateneo was missing MVP frontrunner Zane Kallos, who was sidelined with a left knee injury, leaving the Blue Eagles short-handed for the crucial game.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the final elimination-round game, De La Salle-Zobel closed out their campaign with a 73-59 victory over Adamson University.
With this win, the Junior Archers finished in fifth place with a 6-8 record, while Ateneo ended up sixth with a 5-9 record.
The Baby Falcons (3-11) and the UPIS Fighting Maroons (0-14) rounded out the bottom of the standings.
For De La Salle-Zobel, Vince Magan led with a game-high 26 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, and three assists.
Melvin Tailan also had a strong performance, contributing 23 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
Jayden Centeno added seven points, two rebounds, two steals, and one assist, while Duncan Tan chipped in five points and six rebounds.
“Yung positives naman ay we were still there in the battle for the Final Four. Every year naman, lagi kami nagpprepare at naghahanda para sa mission namin na makapasok na Final Four. Kinapos na naman ngayon, pero next year pangako na mas paghahandaan namin,” said Junior Archers head coach Penny Laureaga.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In Kallos’ absence, Domeng Ngo stepped up for Ateneo, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Q Molina added 10 points, five assists, and two rebounds, while Sky Jazul also scored 10 points, along with three rebounds and two steals.
JD Juangco contributed an all-around stat line of seven points, four rebounds, and four assists.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Edison Jordan led the Baby Falcons with 20 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Aurelio Fransman chipped in 12 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Craig Fongtong had 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Prince Banate nearly recorded a double-double with nine points, eight rebounds, one steal, and one block.
The Scores:
First Game:
FEU-D (69) – Lopez 16, Victoria 9, Santos 8, Carino 8, Dulin 7, Miranda 7, Enriquez 6, Pasinos 6, Lassiter 2, Pineda 0, Pingris 0, Diaz 0, Daa 0, Adriano 0, Chavez 0.
Ateneo (55) – Ngo 12, Molina 10, Jazul 10, Juangco 7, Lacsamana 5, Fernandez 4, Bernarte 3, Pineda 3, Ylen 1, Meresen 0, Dela Rosa 0, Ramos 0, Valte 0, Divinagracia 0, Hwang 0.
Quarterscores: 21-16, 34-25, 53-41, 69-55.
Second Game:
DLSZ (73) – Magan 26, Tailan 23, Centeno 7, Apao 5, Tan 5, Fuentes 3, Llamas 2, Villaruz 2, Rivera 0, Maglipon 0, E. Purugganan 0, I. Puruggunan 0, Mindanao 0.
AdU (59) – E. Jordan 20, Fransman 12, Fongtong 10, Banate 9, A. Jordan 5, Tiamzon 3, Azurias 0, Ondevilla 0, Tuazon 0, Alcantara 0, Ang 0.
Quarterscores: 16-12, 35-33, 51-46, 73-59.
