MANILA — Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws staged a dramatic fourth-quarter rally and held their nerve in overtime to dethrone National University Nazareth School Bullpups, 106-102, in a gripping Game 3 to capture the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Basketball championship on Monday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Trailing by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, the Baby Tamaraws unleashed a furious comeback before executing with poise in the extra period to secure their 10th title in the division—and their first since Season 85.
FEU-D seized control in overtime through clutch free throws and key defensive stops. Khean Esperanza ignited the push, putting his team ahead, 99-96, after drawing fouls early in the extra frame. NU-Nazareth struggled to find rhythm offensively until the final minute, when Corian Cabantog scored off a feed from Moussa Diakite.
But Cabs Cabonilas responded with a crucial three-point play to keep FEU-D in front. Esperanza and Shaun Lucido then split their trips to the line, giving the Baby Tamaraws a narrow 103-100 cushion with 11.6 seconds left.
The Bullpups still had a chance to steal the game after Ronnie Matias sank two free throws to trim the deficit to one. Esperanza again split from the stripe, leaving the door open—but Cabonilas came up with the biggest play of the night, intercepting NU’s inbound pass before calmly sinking two free throws to seal the title.
“Siyempre, it’s a very, very different feeling because 28 years back, medyo iba ang basketball eh,” said first-year Baby Tamaraws head coach Mike Reyes, who previously won the boys’ title with Ateneo in Seasons 62 (1999) and 63 (2000).
Cabonilas delivered a historic performance, becoming the first player in UAAP high school history to win both the regular-season and Finals MVP awards since statistics tracking began in 2002. He averaged 24.0 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2.0 steals in the series.
In the deciding game, the 6-foot-4 forward from Digos City erupted for 35 points, along with 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks—matching Lucido’s scoring output for NU-Nazareth.
Esperanza added 23 points, while Dwyne Enriquez and Marc Burgos contributed 13 and 10, respectively, to power FEU-D’s comeback victory.
For NU-Nazareth, Cabantog tallied 18 points and 16 rebounds, Matias had 17 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while Diakite chipped in a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double./PN
