Baby Tams tame Tiger Cubs, near semis incentive
GRIFFIN Barlan and the FEU-D Baby Tamaraws storm back, capturing a 67-60 win over the UST Tiger Cubs that boosted their chances for the second spot in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 89 boys’ U16 basketball tournament on Thursday.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF uaap
Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) mounted a decisive fourth-quarter rally to complete a comeback victory over the University of Santo Tomas (UST), 67-60, and strengthen its hold on second place in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 boys’ 16U basketball tournament on Thursday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The victory boosted the Baby Tamaraws’ bid for a Final Four incentive, as they completed a season sweep of the Tiger Cubs after winning their first-round meeting, 77-69.
FEU-D also extended its winning streak to five games to improve to 8-2, while UST saw its three-game winning streak snapped to fall to 5-6.
“They suddenly woke up in the fourth quarter and started doing things right. Although we had open shots, they just weren’t falling. That’s why some got frustrated,” FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia said.
“So at halftime, we told them, ‘No frustration.’ From there, they stayed consistent defensively and enjoyed playing.”
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.
FEU-D continued to force stops and capitalize on second-chance opportunities before Mampao banked in a long-range shot just before the shot clock expired to extend the lead to 59-53 with three minutes left.
Despite baskets from Miguel Austria and Mac Macasarte that fueled UST’s late rally, Mampao answered with a timely inside conversion to help seal the Baby Tamaraws’ comeback victory.
Calma and Barlan paced FEU-D with 16 points apiece, while Mampao added 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
The Baby Tamaraws dominated the offensive glass, outrebounding UST, 28-13, in offensive rebounds. FEU-D also doubled the Tiger Cubs’ second-chance points, 24-12.
Meanwhile, Macasarte led UST with 18 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, while Austria recorded a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, alongside three assists.
Later in the day, the University of the East (UE) 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.