By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Far Eastern University-Diliman secured the UAAP Season 88 boys basketball title after beating National University Nazareth School (NUNS) in overtime, 106-102, at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle Gym on Monday night.
Bullpup Shaun Lucido converted two free throws off Yosef Rañeses, ending the regulation period at 96-all.
Cabs Cabonilas scored 35 points, including two free throws that sealed the victory for the Baby Tamaraws.
FEU-D won Game 1 (77-73), and NUNS took Game 2 (80-59).
“Of course, it’s a very, very different feeling because 28 years back, basketball was a little different,” said FEU-D head coach Mike Reyes, who also won the UAAP boys’ title with Ateneo in Seasons 62 (1999) and 63 (2000).
“The happiest thing that really happened with this championship is we all know Cabs and (Marc) Burgos, someone will take them in college, but Sam (Hall), (Yosef) Rañeses, and John Santos, Coach Sean (Chambers) saw what they could do. So, maybe, they will be given a shot in our college team.”
The 6-foot-4 Cabonilas became the first player to win both the regular-season and Finals MVP awards since statistics were officially recorded in 2002.
He averaged 24 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2 steals across the three-game series.
“When I got two MVPs, it wasn’t for me, it was for my coaches, family, and teammates. I just worked hard for it and then I always listened to the entire coaching staff. They just told me and my teammates that there was no pressure and we got it,” said the 19-year-old Cabonilas, who also had 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks.
The 6-foot-4 forward from Digos City in Davao del Sur now has three titles, including the 5-on-5 in UAAP Season 85 (2023) and the 3×3 last season.
FEU-D bagged its 10th crown since Season 85 with the team led by Janrey Pasaol, Veejay Pre, and Kirby Mongcopa under coach Allan Albano, who had returned mid-season after stints at Adamson and Perpetual Help.
“Resiliency, yes. That’s who we were the whole season. All year round, when we lost to Ateneo, we came back and played well. When we lost to NU, our game was strong again. So, I was expecting us to play really well today. But at halftime, our ball screen defense wasn’t there. We were really passive. When we came out for the third quarter, we were a bit more aggressive, but NU really played well,” said Khean Esperanza.
“I really give credit to the whole coaching staff, our conditioning – everything. From day one, when I first met all the coaches, I told them that the success of this year would be because of all of them. I will lead this, but you all are the ones we can rely on to achieve a championship. True enough, it happened today. Of course, the resiliency of the players – even when down, we were there. We did not give up,” he added.
Esperanza finished with 23 points, while Dwyne Enriquez and Marc Burgos added 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Lucido led NUNS with 35 points, followed by Corian Cabantog with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
Ronnie Matias chipped in 17 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while Moussa Diakite had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Matias, Sofiane Bouzina, Chad Cartel, Kurl Figueroa, Lebron Manding, Sal Mann, and Meikho Natinga are graduating this year. (PNA)
