MARC Burgos delivered late in the clutch for FEU-Diliman as they desperately fended off the badgering University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday.
The 19-year-old center from Nueva Ecija scored five of the last seven points and most importantly the game-winning triple to push the Baby Tamaraws to an 84-81 win.
After leading by as many as 18 points in the first half, the defending champions stormed back late and even momentarily took a 78-76 lead.
That only set the stage for Burgos to take over as they averted meltdown and took their ninth win against just two losses.
Despite the blown win, though, Baby Tams head coach Mike Reyes tipped his hat to their shot-making after nearly succumbing to UST’s zone defense.
“Lagi akong aware na UST has the capability makabalik. And [nagpapasalamat] lang ako that we were able to deliver, we were able to counter when they got the lead.
“Again, nabawi na ulit namin na credit to the execution of players. We did well with our zone offense. We had outside shots, we had inside attacks. So that's what did it for us,” he added.
JB Cagurungan led the Baby Tams in scoring with 17 points, while Prince Cariño chipped in his highest scoring game yet with 14.
Cabs Cabonilas and Burgos delivered double-doubles as well, adding 10 rebounds each to their 15 and 13 markers, respectively.
Cañete finished with 21 points and eight assists to lead the losing effort, while Jetlee Melano, Ola Ajani, and JC Canapi had 13 each.
Bullpups stay hot
On the other hand, National University easily extended its streak to seven victories at the expense of the University of the Philippines Integrated School and stay in step with the Baby Tams atop the standings.
Even with Junior Fighting Maroons Bruce Tubongbanua’s 23 points and Kean Poquiz’s 13, they still fell short against the Bullpups, who blew them out, 92-60.
Shaun Lucido led the hounding with 16 points and five steals, as Mot Matias continued his stride by chipping in 12 points and just one missed field goal on six attempts.
Ateneo gets back at Adamson
In the other game, Ateneo got one back from its first round tormentor in Adamson, taking a breezy 88-65 win.
The Blue Eagles logged nearly 60 points in the first half, then proceeded to hold the San Marcelino squad to just five points in the third quarter, which became their launching pad to theblowout win.
The lack of foreign bigs became the downfall for the Baby Falcons as Ateneo big man Jude Eriobu lorded over the paint with 19 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks.
Flanking him were Audwwyn Tamayo and Jay M Leal, who had 16 and 13 points, respectively as the Blue Eagles improved to 8-3.
On the other end, Jarl Artango and Francel Flores mustered up an identical 11 points each as Adamson sank to 4-6.
In the final game, De La Salle Zobel held off University of the East in a low-scoring bout, 59-47.
Despite fouling out of the game in the fourth quarter, Ken Atienza did enough damage with his 14 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
Maco Dabao’s improvement continues as well as he added 13 points and four steals for the 6-5 Junior Archers.
Meanwhile, Jamal Diaz mustered up 12 points, nine rebounds, and two steals as UE sank to 4-7, triggering another three-way tie with UST and Adamson.
The Scores:
First Game
ATENEO 88 - Eriobu 19, Tamayo 16, Leal 13, Kallos 11, Kaw 9, Gatmaitan 7, Banal 6, Madrangca 3, Reyes 2, Magpoc 2, Espinas 0, Juangco 0, Molina 0.
ADAMSON 65 - Artango 11, Flores 11, Jenodia 9, Gomez 6, Frogoso 6, Matillano 5, Bautista 4, Garcia 4, Babad 4, Fongtong 2, Alcartado 2, Gonzales 1, Saygo 0, Eiman 0.
Quarters: 28-19, 56-42, 71-47, 88-65.
Second Game
FEU-D 84 - Cagurungan 17, Cabonilas 15, Cariño 14, Burgos 13, Hall 8, Esperanza 6, Rañeses 4, Gaye 4, Algaban 3, Sohm 0, Dagcutan 0.
UST 81 - Cañete 21, Melano 13, Ajani 13, Canapi 13, Pulongbarit 10, Esteban 5, Bohol 2, Bathan 2, Ludovice 1, Lapastora 1, Sta. Maria 0.
Quarters: 20-17, 47-36, 71-62, 84-81.
Third Game
NUNS 92 - Lucido 16, Matias 12, Figueroa 10, Cartel 9, Natinga 9, Bouzina 8, Timbang 5, Mann 5, Tulabut 4, Cabantog 2, Juan 2, Celiz 2, Sison 2, Manding 1.
UPIS 60 - Tubongbanua 23, Poquiz 13, Labao 6, Rosete 2, Lugatiman 2, Addatu 2, Rosete 2, Lugatiman 2, Hernandez 1, Cobico 0, Villanueva 0, Ryan 0, Manguerra 0.
Quarters: 27-14, 52-28, 74-39, 92-60.
Fourth Game
DLSZ 59 - Atienza 14, Dabao 13, Borrero 12, Arejola 8, Mikailu 5, Favis 3, Ferrer 2, Alpapara 2, Tan 0, Alpapa 0, Luna 0, Llamas 0.
UE 47 - Diaz 12, Bual 10, Timbol 7, Lorenzo 5, Aguas 4, Braga 4, Edoukou 3, Delos Reyes 1, Roquid 1, Pascual 0, Abellar 0, Orca 0, Panganiban 0.
Quarters: 15-11, 33-24, 50-34, 59-47.
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