UST DOMINATES FEU-D TO CLINCH STEPLADDER SEMIS SPOT
By: Miguel Marco
University of Santo Tomas, backed by Strong Group Athletics, secured the second seed and an outright spot in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball stepladder semifinals after a commanding 108-70 victory over Far Eastern University-Diliman on Wednesday morning at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Rowie Cabañero led the way with his second triple-double of the season, tallying 17 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Miguel Jubilado and CJ Tabbuga also delivered standout performances, helping the Tiger Cubs notch their 10th win in 14 games and build momentum, having won four of their last five outings.
“This is a result we’re very happy with because the players responded to weeks of preparation. The plan was the same, but this time we executed it correctly,” said UST head coach Noli Mejos.
The game was tightly contested in the first half, with UST taking a 48-35 lead at the break. However, the Tiger Cubs broke the contest open in the third quarter with a 27-12 run, highlighted by Tabbuga’s 15-point surge, which included five triples. UST carried a 75-47 advantage into the final frame, effectively putting the game out of reach.
In the closing minutes, two free throws by Cabañero followed by consecutive three-pointers from Tabbuga and Wayne Anggot extended the lead to 90-54 with under five minutes left.
Tabbuga finished with 25 points on seven three-pointers and pulled down 15 rebounds, while Jubilado narrowly missed a triple-double with 21 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and one block. Jacob Datu added 20 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while Gab Castro chipped in seven points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
With this win, UST will await the winner of the stepladder quarterfinal between No. 3 FEU and No. 4 Adamson University. Top-ranked National University Nazareth School, having swept the eliminations, has already secured a direct Finals berth and will face the survivor of the three-team chase.
