Camille Naredo

The Adamson Baby Falcons during their game against De La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament on February 23, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

The Adamson Baby Falcons during their game against De La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament on February 23, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

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UAAP Season 87

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740325992622UAAP87 HSBB - AdU-4125.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Adamson Baby Falcons during their game against De La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament on February 23, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Adamson Baby Falcons during their game against De La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament on February 23, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. <em>UAAP Media</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Defending champion Adamson University held on to the No. 4 spot in the league standings after beating De La Salle-Zobel, 76-66, in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament on Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.</p><p>With the victory, the Baby Falcons improved to 6-5, creating a two-game cushion over the Junior Archers and the University of the East Junior Warriors. DLSZ&#x27;s loss, coupled with UE&#x27;s earlier 89-70 defeat to league-leading NU-Nazareth School, gave Adamson some breathing room in the race for the Final Four.</p><p>Adamson&#x27;s win also officially eliminated Ateneo (2-9) from playoff contention after the Blue Eagles fell to UST, 82-72, in the day&#x27;s opening game.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/2/23/uaap-nu-nazareth-nears-final-4-bonus-after-beating-ue-1530">READ: NU-Nazareth nears Final 4 bonus after beating UE</a></div><p>Meanwhile, Far Eastern University-Diliman became the third team to secure a Final Four berth, joining NU and UST, after an 86-70 rout of the University of the Philippines Integrated School.</p><p>Defense was the key to Adamson&#x27;s wire-to-wire win, as the Baby Falcons set the tone early and built a 43-30 lead by halftime.</p><p>DLSZ mounted a late surge in the third quarter behind Kieffer Alas, Maco Dabao, and Kyann Gubat, trimming the deficit to just five, 67-62, with a minute remaining. However, CJ Umali and Mark Esperanza delivered in the clutch to fend off the Junior Archers&#x27; rally.</p><p>&quot;For the past two practices including yung video viewing, ininstill namin sa team na kailangan sa depensa kami magsimula — which is yung identity namin dapat. Good thing, they were up for the challenge,&quot; said Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin.</p><p>Esperanza led Adamson with 19 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Umali chipped in 13 points. Earl Medina also shined on both ends, contributing 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists while limiting Alas to just 6-of-20 shooting, though the DLSZ star still finished with 17 points and 12 boards.</p><p>&quot;Challenge sa kanya yan e. Ilang beses namin ni-replay sa kanya yung tinirahan siya ni Kieffer. It will happen again if he allows it. Just challenge Kieffer. Pero hindi lang naman siya ang player ng Zobel. If we contain him then defend the others, we have a chance to win,&quot; said Fermin.</p><p>Cabs Cabonilas, on the other hand, further solidified his MVP candidacy, powering FEU-D with a dominant 24-point, 15-rebound, five-assist, two-steal, and one-block performance as the Baby Tamaraws improved to 8-3.</p><p>Liam Salangsang added 12 points, while Mico Pascual posted a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740326016601UAAP87 HSBB - -3604.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Action between FEU-Diliman and UPIS in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament on February 23, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Action between FEU-Diliman and UPIS in the UAAP Season 87 boys&#x27; basketball tournament on February 23, 2025 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan. <em>UAAP Media</em></span></span></span></div><p>All 16 Tamaraws saw action in a game-changing third quarter, where FEU-D erupted for 31 points to seize control.</p><p>&quot;Sinasabi ko lang sa mga bata, kung matibay lang &#x27;yung depensa namin at may disiplina, malaking contribution na &#x27;yon sa team. Kung maka-depensa kami nang tama, malaking bagay &#x27;yon,&quot; said Baby Tamaraws head coach Denok Miranda.</p><p>Dabao paced DLSZ with 21 points, while Gubat added 10.</p><p>For also-ran UPIS, which remains winless at 0-11, U16 standouts Jhustin Hallare and Bruce Tubongbanua led the charge with 18 and 17 points, respectively.</p><div><strong>The Scores:</strong></div><div><strong>FEU-Diliman vs UPI</strong></div><p>FEU-D 86 - Cabonilas 24, Salangsang 12, Pascual 11, Esperanza 8, Burgos 6, Cagurungan 6, Raneses 5, Hall 3, Gemao 3, Godoy 2, Santos 2, Castillejos 2, Dagcutan 2, Maierhofer 0, Gutierrez 0, De Guzman 0.</p><p>UPIS 70 - Hallare 18, Tubongbanua 17, Melicor 13, Egea 11, Gomez de Liano 11, Poquiz 0, Uvero 0, Coronel 0.</p><p>Quarterscores: 18-12, 32-33, 63-49, 86-70.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Adamson vs. La Salle-Zobel</strong></div><p>AdU 76 - Esperanza 19, Medina 14, Umali 13, Sajili 9, Perez 9, Jenodia 5, De Jesus 3, Tumaneng 2, Abayon 2, Caspe 0.</p><p>DLSZ 66 - Dabao 21, Alas 17, Gubat 10, Mben 8, Daja 6, Atienza 2, Lopez 2, Arejola 0, Borrero 0, Espinosa 0, Favis 0.</p><p>Quarterscores: 19-15, 43-33, 58-54, 76-66.</p>

<p>Defending champion Adamson University held on to the No. 4 spot in the league standings after beating De La Salle-Zobel, 76-66. #UAAPSeason87 </p>

Defending champion Adamson University held on to the No. 4 spot in the league standings after beating De La Salle-Zobel, 76-66. #UAAPSeason87

UAAP: Adamson boys tighten grip on 4th seed after beating Zobel

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UAAP: Adamson boys tighten grip on 4th seed after beating Zobel

ABS-CBN News

Published February 24, 2025 12:01 AM PHT

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Updated February 24, 2025 12:02 AM PHT

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UPIS Fighting Maroons

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