UAAP: JB Cagurungan waxes hot, sends FEU-D to HS Basketball finals

Far Eastern University-Diliman are the first team to book their place into the UAAP Season 88 Boys Basketball finals after defeating Ateneo de Manila University, 90-89, Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

It is the first appearance for the Baby Tamaraws in the finals since winning the championship in Season 85.

“We told the players that the final four games will be really hard. We were pulling away, Ateneo always had an answer. Pero naka-deliver pa din ang mga players,” said FEU-D head coach Mike Reyes.

With presumptive Most Valuable Player Cabs Cabonilas struggling to find his usual form due to foul trouble, JB Cagurungan stepped up when his team needed scoring production the most.

The sharpshooter carried the Baby Tamaraws' offense in the final minutes of the fourth canto, scoring the last 14 points which was capped off with the go-ahead triple with 21 ticks left in the game clock.

“Sa time na yun, wala, I was feeling hot lang po, when I caught the ball I just looked at the rim and let it go,” said Cagurungan.

“He was just JB,” Reyes quickly quipped after.

Cagurungan finished the heated matchup with 27 points, sinking seven out of nine shots beyond the arc (77.8 3P%).

Khean Esperanza and Marc Burgos also shared the load on the offensive end, notching 18 and 15 markers respectively; with the former also contributing six assists, five rebounds, and four steals.

On the other hand, it is now the end of an otherwise strong season for the Blue Eagles. Presumptive Best Foreign Student Athlete Jude Eriobu put up a dominant statline in Ateneo’s efforts to force a rubber match, scoring 36 points to go along with 22 boards, four blocks, and three steals.

Forward Noah Banal also attempted to bring the Blue Eagles over the line, scoring eight of his 25 points in the final two minutes of the game.

Scores:

FEU-D 90 - Cagurungan 27, Esperanza 18, Burgos 15, Cabonilas 7, Rañeses 6, Sohm 6, Gaye 4, Santos 4, Alagaban 3, Hall 0, Dulin 0, Dagcutan 0, Cariño 0, Enriquez 0.

Ateneo 89 - Eriobu 36, Banal 25, Tamayo 12, Kallos 6, Espinas 5, Leal 3, Madrangca 1, Gatmaitan 1, Kaw 0.

Quarters: 21-13, 36-42, 66-64, 90-89.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News