FEU-D stuns defending champ Adamson in opener

c/o UAAP Media Team

Games Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre

8 a.m. – DLSZ vs NUNS (Boys)
10 a.m. – UE vs AdU (Boys)
12 noon – Ateneo vs FEU-D (Boys)
2 p.m. – UPIS vs UST (Boys)
4 p.m. – NUNS vs Ateneo (Girls)

CABS Cabonilas and Far Eastern University-Diliman gave head coach Denok Miranda a winning debut, overcoming a late rally from defending champion Adamson University to secure a 75-71 victory in the UAAP Season 87 Boys Basketball Tournament opener on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Cabonilas, a member of the Gilas Youth team, showcased his national team experience by delivering an impressive double-double performance of 25 points and 17 rebounds, along with four assists and four steals.

“Nag-stick lang kami sa game plan. Kung ano yung game plan namin sa practice, adjust lang ng onti kasi may kumpyansa naman ako dito sa mga bata ko na maoovercome nila. Yung mga naexperience namin over the past seasons and session sa ensayo, nakatulong ‘yon para sa pagbawi namin ngayong season,” said Miranda, the former head coach of the FEU Tamaraws.

Meanwhile, reigning MVP Colins Akowe put on a dominant display for National University-Nazareth School, registering a monstrous double-double of 21 points, 26 rebounds, and four blocks to power the Bullpups to a 71-60 wire-to-wire win over University of Santo Tomas.

Adamson staged a 16-5 run to close the third quarter with a 46-43 lead.

However, FEU-D countered with a decisive 19-4 surge in the final period, building a commanding 62-50 cushion with 5:52 left.

The Baby Falcons clawed back behind Mark Esperanza, Henry Penafiel, Earl Medina, and CJ Umali, cutting a 12-point deficit to just one, 70-69, with 1:37 remaining.

Cabonilas, however, delivered in the clutch, scoring four of the Baby Tamaraws' final five points, highlighted by a crucial three-pointer and a free throw that sealed their opening-day win.

The rebounding battle proved to be the key difference, with FEU-D dominating the boards 52-38.

Marc Burgos provided strong support for FEU-D with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Liam Salangsang added an all-around effort of 17 points, two rebounds, two steals, and one assist.

NUNS, later in the day, raced to a commanding 48-27 halftime lead against UST.

The Tiger Cubs mounted a spirited second-half comeback, trimming the deficit to just 10, 65-55, with 5:52 left in the game.

However, Akowe’s timely layups gave the Bullpups breathing room, pushing their lead to 69-58 with 2:16 remaining.

A layup from Carl Alfanta and a crucial turnover by Tiger Cub Charles Bucsit in the final 30 seconds secured the Bullpups' victory.

Akowe, who set the boys’ high school rebounding record of 29 last year, continues to dominate.

“Wala na ako mahihiling [kay Colins] ‘eh, alam ko naman na trinatrabaho niya, nagiimprove siya. Pero you have to get this right coming into college. Kung saan ‘man siya maglalaro sa college, this is the time na you have to enhance yung mga kulang mo pa coming into college,” said NUNS head coach Kevin de Castro.

Alfanta contributed 15 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while Jid Locsin tallied six points, eight assists, and eight rebounds in the win.

For Adamson, Esperanza stood out with 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals, while Medina added 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals, one block, and one assist.

Penafiel shone in his debut, scoring 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, with two rebounds and one assist.

In UST’s opening-day loss, Bucsit led with 15 points, five rebounds, and four steals, while Charles Esteban contributed 13 points, nine rebounds, and a block.

Wacky Ludovice added nine points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

Racine Kane, in his UAAP debut, was limited to eight points on 3-of-15 shooting but contributed 10 rebounds, five steals, four blocks, and two assists.

The Scores:

First Game

FEU-D (75) – Cabonilas 25, Burgos 19, Salangsang 17, Pascual 8, Raneses 2, Castillejos 2, De Guzman 2, Godoy 0, Hall 0, Gemao 0, Maierhofer 0, Esperanza 0.

AdU (71) – Esperanza 19, Medina 14, Peñafiel 12, Perez 7, Umali 7, Matillano 4, De Jesus 4, Sajili 2, Abayon 2, Tumaneng 0, Artango 0.
Quarterscores: 17-10, 31-26, 43-46, 75-71.

Second Game

NUNS (71) – Akowe 21, Alfanta 15, Napa 8, Locsin 6, Natinga 5, Figueroa 4, Cartel 3, Palanca 3, Nepacena 2, Solomon 2, Matias 1, Usop 1.

UST (60) – Bucsit 15, Esteban 13, Ludovice 9, Kane 8, Catalan 8, Buenaflor 3, Cañete 2, Manding 2, Cinco 0, Vidanes 0, Acido 0, Solon 0.
Quarterscores: 23-8, 48-27, 60-48, 71-60.