University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University wrapped up their UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament campaigns on a high note at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Thursday.
Despite missing the Final Four by just one game, the Junior Warriors stunned the Mark Esperanza-less Adamson University Baby Falcons with a wire-to-wire 69-60 victory.
Meanwhile, Jay-M Leal came up clutch, sinking a go-ahead layup to lift the Blue Eagles to a thrilling 70-69 win over upset-hungry University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons.
The Junior Warriors fell short of a Final Four berth for the 20th consecutive year, finishing their season in fifth place with a 6-8 record.
“Frustrating kasi we were expecting na higher seed sana kami ngayon, but it’s a learning process. Hindi namin nakuha yung gusto namin, pero hindi nahihinto lahat doon,” said second-year Junior Warriors head coach Karl Santos.
“As a coach, I’m not tapping out when it comes to developing them or preparing them and of course, propelling the Junior Warriors back to the Final Four.”
Sizco Roquid, Martin Almanza, and Dennis Dahino contributed nine points each.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
On the other hand, Adamson played without lead floor general Mark Esperanza and center Jireh Tumaneng in their final elimination game before the postseason.
Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin opted to rest Esperanza, who averaged 16.08 points, 5.77 assists, 4.85 rebounds, and 1.62 steals in 33 minutes and 40 seconds per game, in preparation for their title defense in the playoffs.
The Baby Falcons, who finished the elims with an even 7-7 record, now await the result of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs versus National University Nazareth School Bullpups match to determine their semifinal opponent.
If NUNS wins, Adamson will face third-seeded FEU-D in the stepladder quarterfinal. However, if UST hands the Bullpups their first loss, Adamson will face NUNS in a traditional Final Four format.
JR Abayon led the Baby Falcons with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Allen Perez tallied 13 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two blocks.
Earl Medina struggled with his shot, scoring 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting, but contributed six rebounds, four steals, and three assists.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the opening game, with Ateneo trailing by one after a pull-up jumper by Bruce Tubongbanua with 4.2 seconds left, Ziv Espinas attempted a potential game-winning three-pointer but missed badly.
However, Leal was in the right place at the right time, grabbing the offensive rebound and converting the game-winning putback with 1.2 seconds remaining to secure the Blue Eagles’ victory.
The win was also a fitting send-off to seniors Chris Urbina, TJ Delos Santos, and five other graduating players.
The Fighting Maroons had one final chance to end their 17-game losing streak dating back to January 14, 2024, in Season 86, but Tubongbanua failed to release his three-point attempt before the buzzer.
“Ang laking tulong nila TJ and Chris talaga sa akin. Kaya ako naiiyak kanina after the game kasi hindi ko ma-imagine na mawawala na sila sa team, pero I’m happy I sent them off on a strong note,” said Leal, who finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, and one block.
“Nanalo kami by one point, pero for us, a win is a win. Kahit gaano kasama yung linaro namin, just make sure gawan natin ng paraan dahil doon namin makikita yung maturity ng team namin and yung toughness namin,” added Blue Eagles head coach Ford Arao, who wrapped up his debut season with a 3-11 record for seventh place — the lowest-ever win total for Ateneo’s boys’ basketball team.
Alfonso Tan contributed 15 points, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals. In their final UAAP high school game, Urbina posted 13 points, six assists, two steals, and one rebound, while Delos Santos recorded 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one block.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UPIS, after three consecutive 1-13 seasons (Seasons 82, 85, and 86), ended the tournament with a 0-14 record for the first time in 15 years. The last time the Fighting Maroons finished winless was in Season 72 back in 2010.
Season 86 Rookie of the Year Nathan Egea delivered an impressive performance with 25 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block. Tubongbanua chipped in 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, along with four rebounds and three assists.
Rocco Melicor capped his tenure with UPIS with 11 points, six assists, three rebounds, and one steal, while Jaime Gomez de Liano ended his high school career with seven points, 14 rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
The Scores:
Second Game (Boys’)
Ateneo (70) – Tan 15, Leal 15, Urbina 13, Delos Santos 12, Ymasa 8, Kaw 5, Espinas 2, Lagdamen 0, Asistio 0, Lacsamana 0, Aquino 0.
UPIS (69) – Egea 25, Tubongbanua 16, Melicor 11, Hallare 10, Gomez de Liano 7, Uvero 0, Pascual 0, Coronel 0, Hernandez 0, Poquiz 0, Gepitan 0.
Quarterscores: 20-25, 40-43, 57-53, 70-69.
Third Game (Boys’)
UE (69) – Roquid 9, Almanza 9, Dahino 9, Lorenzo 7, Bual 7, Aguas 7, Bana 6, Lagat 5, Diaz 4, Sabroso 2, Alejandro 2, Farochilen 2, Chua 0, Timbol 0, Cuevas 0, Abellar 0.
AdU (60) – Abayon 14, Perez 13, Medina 11, Sajili 7, Matilliano 5, Decatoria 4, Murillo 4, Jenodia 2, Umali 0, Garcia 0, Penafiel 0, De Jesus 0, Caspe 0.
Quarterscores: 23-14, 39-25, 56-43, 69-60.
