UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University-Diliman punched their tickets to the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Final Four after disposing of separate foes, Sunday at the Filoil Ecooil Centre.
The Tiger Cubs triumphed over the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 82-72, to go up to 9-2 for solo second while the Baby Tamaraws routed the UPIS Fighting Maroons, 86-70, to be just one game behind of UST.
Helping the cause of both schools were the losses of De La Salle-Zobel and University of the East, which both fell to 4-7 for tie for fifth.
The Junior Warriors suffered their third consecutive loss at the hands of still-perfect National University Nazareth School Bullpups, 89-70, while defending champions Adamson Baby Falcons created a two-game separation for fourth with a 76-66 victory over the Junior Archers.
Adamson’s win also officially eliminated Ateneo (2-9) from playoff contention,
Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Inigo is glad to advance to his second straight Final Four but noted that they need to be consistent unlike their loss to the Baby Tamaraws the last time out.
“Ever since nung first round, lahat ng panalo namin ay dahil sa good start namin. So I keep on telling the boys na malaking factor ‘yung magandang start namin palagi, so kailangan i-maintain namin yan every game,” said Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Inigo.
UST’s Senegalese student-athlete Racine Kane was a dominant force inside, registering a monster double-double of 25 points and 19 rebounds.
The Gilas Youth duo of Wacky Ludovice and Carl Manding also provided ample support, each scoring 14 points.
Meanwhile, Koji Buenaflor, off a suspension, made his presence felt with 14 points and eight rebounds, helping the Tiger Cubs improve to 9-2.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Cabs Cabonilas, on the other hand, further solidified his MVP candidacy, powering FEU-D with a dominant 24-point, 15-rebound, five-assist, two-steal, and one-block performance.
Liam Salangsang added 12 points, while Mico Pascual posted a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.
All 16 Tamaraws saw action in the game that saw FEU-D erupt for 31 points to seize control over UPIS.
“Sinasabi ko lang sa mga bata, kung matibay lang ‘yung depensa namin at may disiplina, malaking contribution na ‘yon sa team. Kung maka-depensa kami nang tama, malaking bagay ‘yon,” said Baby Tamaraws head coach Denok Miranda.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Defense was the key to Adamson’s wire-to-wire win, as the Baby Falcons set the tone early and built a 43-30 lead by halftime.
DLSZ mounted a late surge in the third quarter behind Kieffer Alas, Maco Dabao, and Kyann Gubat, trimming the deficit to just five, 67-62, with a minute remaining. However, CJ Umali and Mark Esperanza delivered in the clutch to fend off the Junior Archers’ rally.
“For the past two practices including yung video viewing, ininstill namin sa team na kailangan sa depensa kami magsimula — which is yung identity namin dapat. Good thing, they were up for the challenge,” said Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin.
Esperanza led Adamson with 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Umali chipped in 13 points.
Earl Medina also shined on both ends, contributing 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists while limiting Alas to just 6-of-20 shooting, though the DLSZ star still finished with 17 points and 12 boards.
“Challenge sa kanya yan e. Ilang beses namin ni-replay sa kanya yung tinirahan siya ni Kieffer. It will happen again if he allows it. Just challenge Kieffer. Pero hindi lang naman siya ang player ng Zobel. If we contain him then defend the others, we have a chance to win,” said Fermin.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
With their 10th win of the season, the Bullpups have clinched a playoff incentive and three wins short of an outright Finals berth.
“Malayo pa kami sa goal namin, which is yung championship,” said Bullpups head coach Kevin De Castro. “For this game, maganda na madaming nag-step up para sa amin, kasi yun nga, malapit na yung Final Four.”
Reigning MVP Collins Akowe recorded his 10th double-double of the season, finishing with eight points, 18 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a block.
Akowe was not alone in carrying the offensive load, as Macmac Alfanta led the Bullpups with 18 points, Chad Cartel contributed 13 points and five assists, while Migs Palanca added an efficient 10 points and seven rebounds.
Grade 11 guard Mot Matias also had a standout performance, dishing out eight assists without a single turnover while chipping in five points.
“This game, talagang naglaro sila. They showed up as a team. Yun nga, 27 assists—eto naman yung gusto ko sa team namin eh,” De Castro added.
NUNS set the tone early, taking a 23-14 lead in the opening period before blowing the game wide open with a 30-point advantage, 75-45.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the girls, UST continued its dominant run, securing a commanding 107-47 victory over DLSZ.
With the win, the Junior Golden Tigresses improved to a flawless 5-0 record while officially eliminating the Junior Lady Archers from contention, dropping them to 1-4.
This sets up a best-of-three Finals showdown between UST and National University Nazareth School (3-1) in the return of this demonstration event after a five-year hiatus.
Back in UAAP Season 82, UST also reached the Finals against Adamson University. However, the tournament was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the UAAP declared both schools co-champions.
“I was there, but hindi pa ako yung coach nun. Actually, bitin yun, nagka-pandemic. Pero nagkaraan na yun,” said Junior Golden Tigresses head coach Sen Dysangco, referring to former head coach Ford Grajales, who led the team at the time.
“We are looking forward, not backward, but this is still part of UST’s culture and history. We will try to give a good showing in the Finals.”
Grachelle Boteros, a Grade 12 winger, earned her second Player of the Game honor with an all-around performance of 24 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Katina Insoy and Rhiane Perez added 16 and 15 points, respectively, while Barby Dajao contributed across the board with nine points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and four steals.
Martin Almanza led the Junior Warriors with 12 points, while Topeng Lagat added 11.
Maco Dabao paced DLSZ with 21 points, while Kyann Gubat added 10.
Despite the loss, Alfonso Tan led Ateneo with 22 points, while Jay-m Leal delivered 17 points and nine rebounds.
For also-ran UPIS, which remains winless at 0-11, U16 standouts Jhustin Hallare and Bruce Tubongbanua led the charge with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
The Scores:
First game (girls)
UST 107 – Boteros 24, Insoy 16, Perez 15, Dajao 9, Petalcorin 9, Onate 7, Pinuela 6, Wenceslao 6, Floreindo 5, Tambawan 4, Banate 3, Arciaga 3, Anonuevo 0, Villarin 0, Pesquera 0.
DLSZ 47 – Martinez 10, Notarte 8, De Luna 7, Reyes 7, Cordero 6, Navarro 6, Dominguez 3, Poral 0.
Quarterscores: 31-6, 59-22, 88-30, 107-47.
Second game (boys)
UST 82 – Kane 25, Ludovice 14, Manding 14, Buenaflor 12, Bucsit 8, Canete 5, Solon 2, Cinco 2, Javier 0, Acido 0, Vidanes 0, Bohol 0.
Ateneo 72 – Tan 22, Leal 17, Urbina 11, Espinas 6, Delos Santos 6, Gatmaitan 4, Kallos 2, Lagdamen 2, Lacsamana 2, Kaw 0, Reyes 0, Asistio 0.
Quarterscores: 24-16, 47-39, 62-54, 82-72.
Third game (boys)
NUNS 89 – Akowe 18, Alfanta 18, Cartel 13, Palanca 10, Locsin 9, Matias 5, Pillado 5, Solomon 3, Napa 2, Figueroa 2, Usop 0, Natinga 0.
UE 70 – Almanza 12, Lagat 11, Timbol 9, Alejandro 8, Sabroso 7, Lorenzo 6, Farochilen 4, Bual 4, Bana 2, Diaz 2, Aguas 2, Chua 0, Abellar 0, Roquid 0, Dahino 0.
Quarterscores: 23-14, 40-32, 68-45, 89-70
Fourth game (Boys)
FEU-D 86 – Cabonilas 24, Salangsang 12, Pascual 11, Esperanza 8, Burgos 6, Cagurungan 6, Raneses 5, Hall 3, Gemao 3, Godoy 2, Santos 2, Castillejos 2, Dagcutan 2, Maierhofer 0, Gutierrez 0, De Guzman 0.
UPIS 70 – Hallare 18, Tubongbanua 17, Melicor 13, Egea 11, Gomez de Liano 11, Poquiz 0, Uvero 0, Coronel 0.
Quarterscores: 18-12, 32-33, 63-49, 86-70.
Fifth game (boys)
AdU 76 – Esperanza 19, Medina 14, Umali 13, Sajili 9, Perez 9, Jenodia 5, De Jesus 3, Tumaneng 2, Abayon 2, Caspe 0.
DLSZ 66 – Dabao 21, Alas 17, Gubat 10, Mben 8, Daja 6, Atienza 2, Lopez 2, Arejola 0, Borrero 0, Espinosa 0, Favis 0.
Quarterscores: 19-15, 43-33, 58-54, 76-66.
