CABAÑERO’S TRIPLE-DOUBLE POWERS UST PAST FEU-D

UAAP Season 88 Media Team

By: Miguel Marco

Strong Group-powered University of Santo Tomas thumped Far Eastern University-Diliman, 92-82, in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament on Wednesday morning, Oct. 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With the win, UST forged a four-way tie with FEU-D, Adamson University, and University of the East, all holding identical 4-2 records.

Rowie Cabañero turned in a spectacular triple-double—the second in the league this season—finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.

“Maganda itong pagkapanalo na ‘to, especially isa sila sa pinakamalakas na team,” UST head coach Noli Mejos said after the game.

FEU-D set the tone early in the opening frame, capped by a Hisham Mampao three-pointer that gave the Baby Tamaraws a 22-16 lead. Both squads went on a shooting spree from beyond the arc in the second quarter, with Tabbuga drilling three triples to tie the game at 31-all, before Mampao’s layup sent both teams to halftime knotted at 44.

UST exploded in the third quarter, outscoring the Baby Tamaraws 31-17 to seize a double-digit lead heading into the final frame, 75-61.

Down 82-68, FEU-D launched a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to seven, 82-75, with 3:40 remaining. But the Baby Tamaraws ran out of steam, as Dats Datu, Rowie Cabañero, and Wayne Anggot stifled FEU-D’s comeback hopes and secured the 92-82 victory.

Despite the team effort, Mejos said he wants to address turnovers and defensive inconsistencies.

“Medyo nandoon na, pero hindi pa ako satisfied sa laro nila especially doon sa turnovers at hindi pagiging consistent sa depensa,” he noted.

Miguel Jubilado tallied 24 points and 10 rebounds, while Tabbuga scored 18 points—all in the first half.

The Junior Tiger Cubs will close out their first-round eliminations against Adamson University on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 9:30 a.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.