The Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) Baby Tamaraws punched their ticket to the next stage of the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball stepladder semifinals, eliminating the Adamson University Baby Falcons with a decisive 90-76 victory on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
FEU-D’s dynamic duo, Dwyne Enriquez and Prince Cariño, spearheaded the wire-to-wire effort, consistently extinguishing every threat Adamson mustered.
Holding a comfortable lead for most of the first half, the third-seeded Baby Tamaraws found themselves challenged in the third quarter when Adamson trimmed the deficit to just six, 53-47.
This is when Enriquez exploded, showcasing his clutch gene by matching Adamson basket for basket.
He poured in 16 of his game-high 29 points in the period, ensuring FEU-D maintained a 69-60 cushion entering the final frame.
The Falcons, however, refused to quit. They managed to pull within five points, 75-70, early in the fourth.
But much like the third quarter, the Baby Tamaraws responded with a decisive run. Cariño and Enriquez, supported by Andrei Chavez and Kyle Mojica, ignited an 11-2 closing burst that finally put the game out of reach.
Enriquez finished with a spectacular line of 29 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks.
Not to be outdone, his frontcourt partner, Cariño, dominated the paint, logging a massive double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
“We emphasized that no matter how hard the opponent fights back, we must keep playing and never stop our efforts,” said FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia, whose team was lauded for their resolve.
In a valiant final outing for Adamson, Fran Flores delivered a masterful performance, erupting for 31 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals in his last game for the 16U squad.
With the victory, FEU-D advances to the stepladder semifinals where they will face the No. 2 seeded University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Baby Tamaraws will look to avenge their two previous elimination-round losses against UST, including a severe 108-70 rout.