Manila: Third seed Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) triumphed over second seed University of Santo Tomas (UST) with a score of 82-75, securing their place in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Baby Tamaraws, led by standout players Dwyne Enriquez and Prince Cari±o, bounced back from a challenging five-game losing streak to set up a highly anticipated best-of-three championship showdown with the National University Nazareth School (NUNS), scheduled to commence on December 6 at the Big Dome. Despite previous losses to NUNS in the elimination round, with scores of 66-78 and 68-72, FEU-D is determined to make a strong comeback.
This upcoming finals series marks the second championship encounter between the Baby Tamaraws and the Bullpups, recalling the inaugural tournament of Season 86, where Rob Celiz’s last-second triple secured NUNS its first U16 crown. FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia expressed his joy over the team’s resilience, emphasizing the importance of perseverance both on and off the court.
In the decisive game against UST, FEU-D executed a remarkable 11-point streak to establish a 68-59 lead in the fourth quarter. Although UST made a valiant effort to close the gap to 64-68, Enriquez, Cari±o, and Prince Pineda’s subsequent baskets extended the lead to 79-70 with just 1:27 remaining. Enriquez contributed significantly with 22 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, while Cari±o added a formidable 21 points, 22 rebounds, two blocks, and one assist.
FEU-D advanced to the semifinals after overcoming Adamson University in the stepladder quarterfinals with a 90-76 victory on November 30. Key players Andrei Chavez and Prince Pineda also delivered notable performances, with Chavez scoring 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, and Pineda contributing 11 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
For UST, Rowie Caba±ero stood out with 18 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals, while CJ Tabbuga added 14 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, leading UST to a third-place finish following a runner-up position in Season 87. Additional contributions came from Gab Castro with 12 points, four rebounds, and one block, along with Miguel Jubilado and Dave Regala, who each added nine points. UST earned an automatic semifinal berth by securing second place in the elimination round with a 10-4 record.
