THE Blue Eagles forced a playoff, only to see the Baby Tamaraws run away with it.
FEU-Diliman secured the second seed, as well as the all-important twice-to-beat advantage it entails in UAAP Season 88 after dealing Ateneo a 110-73 blowout on its own home floor Blue Eagle Gym on Wednesday.
Projected boys' basketball MVP Cabs Cabonilas held his ground against runaway Best Foreign Student-Athlete Jude Eriobu, dropping 28 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and three blocks in the Baby Tamaraws' much-welcome bounce back win.
Just three days ago, the Blue Eagles got the better of the green-and-gold, as the two teams ended the elimination round at both 11-3, tied for second in the standings.
As soon as jump ball started, FEU-D quickly showed its drive to bounce back, logging a 50-point first half before stepping further on the gas in the fourth quarter with a 40-point outburst marked by a flurry of triples.
Multiple Baby Tams rained hellfire on Ateneo in the final frame, including three from Cabonilas, two from Dwyne Enriquez, and one each from JB Cagurungan and Ali Alagaban.
“Siyempre, we're satisfied sa na-achieve namin, objective namin, 40 minutes of playing well,” said head coach Mike Reyes.
FEU-D also got big-time contributions from Enriquez and Cagurungan, as the former delivered 19 points with four triples, while the latter chipped in 13 markers.
Eriobu once again delivered absurd numbers for the Blue Eagles, this time finishing with 35 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks, but had little to no help, as no teammate scored double-figures.
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