Baby Tamaraws keep pace with league leaders

c/o UAAP Media Team

UAAP High School Boys’ Basketball Standings

NUNS 6-0

UST 5-1

FEU-D 5-1

DLSZ 3-3

AdU 3-3

UE 2-4

Ateneo 0-6

UPIS 0-6

Games on Sunday at Filoil EcoOil Centre

8 a.m. - Ateneo vs UPIS (Boys)

10 a.m. - UE vs DLSZ (Boys)

12 p.m. - AdU vs NUNS (Boys)

2 p.m. - FEU-D vs UST (Boys)

4 p.m. - DLSZ vs Ateneo (Girls)

Far Eastern University-Diliman and Adamson University grabbed contrasting victories against separate foes to boost their standings in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Thursday.

The Baby Tamaraws blasted the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, 76-55, while the Baby Falcons needed to execute late to upend the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons, 65-54.

“Yung effort na parati kong sinasabi sa kanila sa depensa, nakuha namin. Nung first half hindi ako nakuntento doon sa rebound, nung second half nacontrol na namin,” said FEU-D head coach Denok Miranda, who returned to the team after missing their last two games as he led the school’s juniors team to gold in B.League U16 Cup in Japan.

The Baby Tamaraws expanded their 13-point halftime lead to a 25-point, 59-34 cushion after limiting the Junior Archers to just eight points in the third while scoring 20 themselves to assure that they will secure their third win in a row that elevated their record to 5-1 at joint-second with the UST Tiger Cubs.

FEU-D and UST will clash on Sunday, 2 p.m. at the same San Juan arena to end their respective first round campaigns.

Cabs Cabonillas led the charge for FEU-D with 17 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Marc Burgos added 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

Kieffer Alas paced DLSZ with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while Paul Reguera and JC Espinosa tallied 14 and 11 points, respectively.

In the other game, the Baby Falcons bucked a lethargic first half with a massive third frame that saw them take a 58-40 advantage.

However, the Junior Maroons did not back down easily, scoring 11 straight points to open the payoff period to inch within seven with 3:58 remaining, 51-58.

But the defending champions responded as Mark Esperanza and Earl Medina took the scoring cudgels for their third win in six games to forge a tie at fourth with DLSZ.

“Same pa rin ang flaws namin. Slow start, inconsistency in defense, tentative on offense. Sabi ko nga who will contribute positively? Good thing si CJ nag contribute positively,” said Adamson head coach Mike Fermin.

CJ Umali was special off the bench of the Baby Falcons with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from three points while Esperanza registered 17 points, seven assists, and four rebounds.

Medina also had 11 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks while Jireh Tumaneng achieved 10 points and five rebounds.

Up next for Adamson is a rematch of last year’s Finals against National University Nazareth School on Sunday.

Last year’s rookie of the year Nathan Egea delivered 17 points and 11 rebounds as UPIS stayed winless after six matches.

The Scores:

Third Game (Boys)

FEU-D 76 - Cabonillas 17, Burgos 16, Pascual 12, Raneses 9, De Guzman 6, Godoy 5, Salangsang 4, Gemao 4, Esperanza 3, Dagcutan 0, Hall 0, Santos 0, Castillejos 0, Cagurungan 0, Maierhofer 0.

DLSZ 55 - Alas 16, Reguera 14, Espinosa 11, Dabao 7, Daja 2, Mben 2, Alpapara 2, Borrero 1, Arejola 0, Atienza 0, Tailan 0, Favis 0, Lopez 0, Gubat 0.

Quarterscores: 19-11, 39-26, 59-34, 76-55.

Fourth Game (Boys)

AdU 65 - Umali 18, Esperanza 17, Medina 11, Tumaneng 10, Perez 6, De Jesus 3, Abayon 0, Decatoria 0, Sajili 0, Murillo 0,    Garcia 0, Matilliano 0, Jenodia 0, Penafiel 0.

UPIS 54 - Egea 17, Tubongbanua 14, Gomez de Liaño 11, Melicor 8, Hallare 4, Uvero 0, Poquiz 0, Coronel 0.

Quarterscores: 11-15, 34-28, 58-40, 65-54.