UAAP: FEU-Diliman boys rally past UST; UE gets back on track

MANILA — Far Eastern University-Diliman rallied for a 67-60 win against University of Santo Tomas to keep its hold on second place in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys’ 16-and-under Basketball Tournament on Thursday.

The victory at the Blue Eagle Gym boosted the Baby Tamaraws’ bid for a Final 4 incentive. They also completed a season sweep of the Tiger Cubs, having won their first round encounter, 77-69. 

The Baby Tamaraws have now won five straight games to improve to 8-2, while UST fell to 5-6 after their own three-game winning streak was snapped. 

“Nagising sila bigla no’ng fourth quarter na lang at nag-start silang gawin ‘yung tama,” FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia said. “Noong halftime, sinabi namin, ‘Walang frustration.’ Ayon, nag-continue naman sila defensively and natuwa sila maglaro.”

Trailing by as many as 14 points early in the second half, the Baby Tamaraws gradually chipped away at the deficit while limiting UST to just 10 points in the third quarter. Griffin Barlan and Bernard Arsola converted consecutive layups to cut the Tiger Cubs’ lead to seven, 42-35, heading into the final frame.

UST struggled to find its rhythm offensively in the fourth quarter, allowing FEU-D to seize control with a 16-4 run capped by Andres Cruz’s triple that gave the Baby Tamaraws a 51-46 lead with 5:22 remaining. They pushed the lead to 59-53 with three minutes left, and weathered a late UST rally to complete the come-from-behind win.

Nicus Calma and Barlan paced FEU-D with 16 points apiece, while Mampao added 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Meanwhile, Mac Macasarte led UST with 18 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, while Miguel Austria recorded a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, alongside three assists.

Later in the day, University of the East snapped its three-game losing streak in dominant fashion, routing Ateneo de Manila University, 105-83, on the Blue Eagles’ home floor.

The victory lifted the Junior Red Warriors to 6-5 and gave them sole possession of fourth place following UST’s loss earlier in the day.

UE also completed a season sweep of Ateneo after claiming an 84-76 victory in their first-round meeting.

The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, absorbed their second consecutive defeat to fall to 1-10, suffering the loss in their third straight game on their home floor.

Ateneo trailed by just three points, 54-51, in the third period off a Spencer Saw bucket, but UE responded with a 9-2 scoring blast that pushed them ahead by double-digits, 63-53. The Junior Warriors went on to pull away in the final frame.

Xerone Dizon spearheaded UE’s offense with a game-high 31 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists to record a double-double, while Jaden Roxas chipped in 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Zion Aguilar added 14 points, two rebounds, and two assists.

Four Ateneo players scored in double figures, led by Saw’s 19 points.

FEU-D (67) — Calma 16, Barlan 16, Mampao 11, Cruz 6, Isip 6, Alsola 4, Ira 4, Castro 4, Samonte 0, Maghinay 0, Garcia 0, Manaloto 0.

UST (60) — Macasarte 18, Austria 15, Eusebio 8, Umbaña 6, Bathan 5, Dueñas 4, Anggot 2, Abototo 2, Cuello 0, Cabañero 0, Esusan 0, Retaga 0.

Quarterscores: 6-13, 21-32, 35-42, 67-60.

UE (105) — Dizon 31, Roxas 25, Aguilar 14, Mallabo 7, Mercado 6, Sena 5, Delos Santos 4, Mercado 4, Ancheta 3, Velayo 2, Pontipedra 2, Riparip 2, Redulfa 0, Maddara 0, Rapin 0, Apostol 0.

Ateneo (83) — Saw 19, Dela Cruz 13, Beley 13, Ylen 12, Nuque-Bautista 9, Gandionco 8, Llavore 5, Fresnido 2, Dionisio 2, Molina 0, Dolera 0, Manlutac 0, Mabigat 0, Shi 0.

Quarterscores: 21-13, 44-35, 75-66, 105-83.