UAAP: Ateneo beats FEU-D in OT to force playoff for No. 2 in HS basketball

Ateneo de Manila University outlasted Far Eastern University-Diliman, 86-82, in overtime in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym to force a playoff for the No. 2 spot.

Both teams finished the elimination round with identical 11-3 records and will face off again on Wednesday to determine who will secure the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.

The Blue Eagles were leading 76-75 with nine seconds left before Marc Burgos converted a late basket to give FEU-D the lead. A foul by Cabs Cabonilas then sent Noah Banal to the line, where he made one of two free throws to force overtime.

The teams traded baskets early in the extra period before Ateneo unleashed a decisive 6-0 run to grab an 85-79 lead with 1:21 remaining.

Yosef Rañeses later drilled a triple to trim the deficit for FEU-D, but Jude Eriobu missed a layup on the next possession. FEU-D then had chances to tie or take the lead, but Pat Sohm, Sam Hall, and Rañeses all missed from beyond the arc.

JB Cagurungan eventually fouled Jay M. Leal, who split his free throws to seal the victory despite a turnover in the closing seconds.

Eriobu paced Ateneo with a double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds, along with two blocks and an assist. Leal added 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Banal chipped in 17 points.

Cabonilas led FEU-D with 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal, and a block. Burgos and Rañeses added 18 and 17 points, respectively, while Cagurungan finished with 13 points.

In the other games, National University Nazareth School secured the top seed after beating De La Salle Zobel, 83-66, to close the eliminations at 11-3, while the Final Four-bound Junior Archers slipped to 8-6.

Defending champion University of Santo Tomas (5-9), meanwhile, routed University of the Philippines Integrated School (0-14), 83-24, while University of the East (5-9) edged Adamson University (4-10), 77-73, to cap their respective campaigns.

In girls’ basketball, UST defeated NUNS, 73-71, to deny the Lady Bullpups an elimination-round sweep ahead of their Finals showdown. Both teams finished the eliminations with identical 5-1 records.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News