Camille Naredo

The FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws celebrate after beating Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 boys' basketball Final 4, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media

The FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws celebrate after beating Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 boys' basketball Final 4, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

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UAAP Season 88

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773556234010UAAP S88 19U BB - FEU-D vs. ATENEO - FEU Team - 1311.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws celebrate after beating Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball Final 4, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media" width="960"/>The FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws celebrate after beating Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball Final 4, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- JB Cagurungan knocked down a clutch three-pointer to lift Far Eastern University-Diliman over Ateneo de Manila University, 90-89, in a thrilling Final 4 showdown in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. The Baby Tamaraws, armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, ousted the Blue Eagles and punched their ticket to the best-of-3 Finals.This is the first time that FEU-Diliman has reached the championship stage since they won their last title in Season 85 (2023).Cagurungan fired FEU-Diliman&#x27;s last 13 points -- none bigger than the triple with 20 seconds left that put them up 90-88. He finished with 27 points, making seven of his nine triples, on top of five rebounds. His effort overshadowed the sensational play of Ateneo&#x27;s Jude Eriobu, who had 36 points, 22 rebounds, four blocks, and three steals for the Blue Eagles. The Baby Tamaraws now await the winner of the other Final Four matchup between top-seeded National University Nazareth School and fourth-ranked De La Salle Zobel.FEU-D had to dig deep as presumptive Most Valuable Player Cabs Cabonilas—who finished with seven points on 2-of-10 shooting, eight rebounds, one steal, one block, and one assist—spent most of the game in foul trouble, committing two quick fouls at the 8:23 mark of the opening period.With their graduating forward limited, Cagurungan took over, sinking a triple, two free throws, and a layup to give the Baby Tamaraws a comfortable 84-77 lead with exactly three minutes remaining in the payoff period.Second-generation cager Noah Banal refused to fold, scoring nine of Ateneo&#x27;s 11 points—including a midrange jumper, a triple, and two free throws—to give the Blue Eagles a slim 88-87 lead with 58.4 seconds left.However, with a Finals ticket on the line, Cagurungan was ready to finish his best outing of Season 88 in style. After Cabonilas secured a loose ball, he immediately passed to Marc Burgos, who then found Cagurungan for a contested right-wing triple over Zane Kallos, building a 90-88 lead with 20 seconds remaining.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1773556264369UAAP S88 19U BB - FEU-D vs. ATENEO - JB Cagurungan - 1111.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="JB Cagurungan of FEU-Diliman puts up a shot against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball Final 4, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media" width="960"/>JB Cagurungan of FEU-Diliman puts up a shot against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball Final 4, March 15, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media</div>Ateneo had one last chance as Kallos found Eriobu inside, but the 6-foot-10 Nigerian center failed to control the ball, leading to a Sam Hall steal that sealed FEU-D&#x27;s Finals berth.Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles capped a breakthrough campaign in Season 88, finishing third—the program&#x27;s first podium finish since Season 81. The result marked significant progress for Ateneo after placing fifth in Season 85 and enduring back-to-back seventh-place finishes in Seasons 86 and 87.The Blue Eagles will now compete in the 2026 SMART-NBTC National Finals, set from March 22 to 29 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Banal finished with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Audwyn Tamayo added 12 points, four rebounds, three steals, and one assist.In his final boys&#x27; basketball game, graduating forward Jay-M Leal struggled, fouling out with 4:29 remaining, finishing with just three points on 1-of-9 shooting and one assist.Other departing Blue Eagles include Ethan Kaw, Ethan Reyes, Renzo Gatmaitan, Henry Madrangca, Aiori Aquino, and Jared Magpoc.<div> </div><div>The Scores:</div>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.Quarterscores: 21-13, 36-42, 66-64, 90-89.

JB Cagurungan knocked down a clutch three-pointer to lift Far Eastern University-Diliman over Ateneo de Manila University, 90-89, in a thrilling Final 4 showdown in the #UAAPSeason88 boys' basketball tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

JB Cagurungan knocked down a clutch three-pointer to lift Far Eastern University-Diliman over Ateneo de Manila University, 90-89, in a thrilling Final 4 showdown in the #UAAPSeason88 boys' basketball tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.

UAAP: Cagurungan lifts FEU-Diliman past Ateneo, into boys' basketball Finals

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UAAP: Cagurungan lifts FEU-Diliman past Ateneo, into boys' basketball Finals

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Published Mar 15, 2026 02:32 PM PHT

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