Cabañero powers Cariño-less UST

Rowie Cabañero registered a triple-double as University of Santo Tomas (UST) snapped Far Eastern University-Diliman’s (FEU-D) three-game winning streak, 92-82, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 junior high school basketball tournament on Wednesday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

With Prince Cariño sidelined due to illness, Cabañero stepped, delivering an all-around performance to lift the Tiger Cubs to their fourth win in six matches for a four-way tie at the second place together with University of the East, Adamson University and the Baby Tamaraws.

The 5-foot-6 guard from Leyte finished with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and two steals for the Tigers, who are two games away from unbeaten leader National University-Nazareth School entering the last game of the first round.

Earlier, University of the East’s Zion Aguilar almost achieved the same feat as well, tallying 23 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, sparking their 89-66 rout of De La Salle-Zobel to return to the win column.

After a disappointing overtime loss to Adamson University last Saturday, Aguilar bounced back in spectacular fashion, scoring 18 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter on 6-of-9 three-point shooting.

Cabañero’s triple-double marked the season’s second and the fifth overall since the tournament’s Season 86 debut, following Clark Khobuntin’s 17 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and one block in NU Nazareth School’s 92-83 victory over Adamson last Wednesday.