Camille Naredo

Ateneo's Jude Eriobu dunks against FEU-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 boys' basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media

Ateneo's Jude Eriobu dunks against FEU-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 boys' basketball tournament, March 8, 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/1772977097957UAAP S88 19U BB - FEU vs. ATENEO - Jude Eriobu - 1228-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ateneo&#x27;s Jude Eriobu dunks against FEU-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media" width="960"/>Ateneo&#x27;s Jude Eriobu dunks against FEU-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- Ateneo de Manila University rallied past Far Eastern University-Diliman in overtime, 86-82, to force a playoff for the second seed in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament on Sunday. The Blue Eagles were trailing 55-68 with 6:19 left in regulation when they uncorked a 22-9 run to send the game into an extension.Timely contributions from Nigerian center Jude Eriobu, Jay-M Leal, and Noah Banal — who combined for 59 of Ateneo&#x27;s 86 points — gave the Bacon Austria-mentored squad a crucial edge in the extra period at the Blue Eagle Gym.With the result, Ateneo and FEU-Diliman finished the elimination round tied for second place with identical 11-3 records. They will play again for the last twice-to-beat advantage on Wednesday, March 11 at the same venue in Katipunan.Earlier, top-seeded National University Nazareth School gained the first playoff advantage with an 83-66 victory over fourth-seeded De La Salle Zobel.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/3/8/uaap-nu-nazareth-secures-top-seed-in-boys-basketball-1801">READ: NU Nazareth secures top seed in boys&#x27; basketball</a></div>&quot;I think it&#x27;s a big win since we forced a playoff. At least, we have that best-of-three rather than a twice-to-beat disadvantage. More than the game, more than having the best-of-three series, it&#x27;s about how we played in the second half and how our character showed up, especially in the fourth quarter,&quot; Austria said.&quot;This is special kasi it&#x27;s our first overtime game of the season. At least we experienced that already, just in case we play again in overtime — at least we know how we should play it,&quot; he added.Marc Burgos responded quickly to Leal&#x27;s go-ahead layup at the 11.8-second mark, giving the Baby Tamaraws a 77-76 lead with 7.9 seconds left. Banal, however, ensured Ateneo&#x27;s comeback didn&#x27;t go to waste by drawing a shooting foul from MVP frontrunner Cabs Cabonilas and splitting his free throws, forcing overtime.Cabonilas&#x27; foul proved pivotal, as the 19-year-old forward — who finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block — fouled out with 1.2 seconds left in regulation.In overtime, Ateneo seized control, building an 85-79 lead with 1:25 remaining on a Banal layup, a Leal inside shot, and two clutch free throws from Eriobu. FEU-D mounted a final rally with a Yosef Raneses triple, but misses from Pat Sohm, Sam Hall, and Raneses sealed the Blue Eagles&#x27; comeback from a 14-point deficit.Eriobu recorded a double-double with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 15 rebounds, adding two blocks and one assist. Leal added 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Banal contributed 17 points, three rebounds, and one assist. Off-the-bench sparkplug Audwyn Tamayo added 10 points and two assists.For FEU-D, Burgos tallied 18 points, 10 rebounds, one steal, one block, and one assist, while Raneses added 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one block. JB Cagurungan finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and three steals.<div> </div><div>UST CLOBBERS UPIS TO END CAMPAIGN<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1772977123437UAAP S88 U19 BB - JETLEE MELANO-2988.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Jetlee Melano of UST in action against UPIS in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media" width="960"/>Jetlee Melano of UST in action against UPIS in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, March 8, 2026 at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City. UAAP Media</div>In the later game, University of Santo Tomas closed out its Season 88 campaign on a high note, sending off eight graduating players with an 83-24 rout of the winless University of the Philippines Integrated School.The Tiger Cubs finished tied for fifth with the UE Junior Warriors at 5-9, while UPIS again ended the season without a win. Despite losing eight graduating players, including skipper Kirk Canete and co-captains Wacky Ludovice and Charles Esteban, UST head coach Manu Inigo is confident the new batch can rebound next year.&quot;Sinasabi ko naman sa kanila na from the start, mahihirapan ma-determine kung sino magcha-champion this season. Sa huli, dikit-dikit pa nga ang standings diba? We&#x27;ll be ready next year — ganon lang ka-simple. We guarantee na we will do better next year kasi natuto rin kami sa nangyari sa amin this season,&quot; Inigo said.UST raced to a 35-9 halftime lead and extended it with a five-point spurt by Dustin Bathan and a JC Canapi triple, putting UPIS in a 60-16 hole entering the fourth period. The Tiger Cubs&#x27; defense held the Fighting Maroons to a season-low 24 points on 8-of-54 shooting.Jetlee Melano led UST with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting, 10 rebounds, and two assists, while Esteban contributed 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, along with 11 rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Bathan added eight points and four rebounds, Kyle Bandigan and Simon Pulongbarit scored seven points each, and Ludovice and Carsson Vidanes chipped in six apiece. Acido, Nigerian center Ola Ajani, Bandigan, Melano, and Vidanes also played their final game for the Tiger Cubs.Bruce Tubongbanua led UPIS with nine points, nine rebounds, and two steals, while Jhustin Hallare added eight points, five rebounds, and one steal. The Fighting Maroons maintain a largely intact core for Season 89, with only Peter John Hernandez and Manfred Rosete graduating from the program.<div> </div><div>The Scores:</div><div>Third Game:</div>Ateneo (86) - Eriobu 23, Leal 19, Banal 17, Tamayo 10, Kaw 7, Espinas 5, Kallos 4, Gatmaitan 1, Aquino 0, Madrangca 0.FEU-D (82) - Cabonilas 22, Burgos 18, Raneses 17, Cagurungan 13, Gaye 4, Hall 2, Sohm 2, Enriquez 2, Alagaban 2, Santos 0, Carino 0, Dulin 0, Dagcutan 0.Quarterscores: 18-24, 31-41, 50-55, 77-77, 86-82.<div> </div><div>Fourth Game:</div>UST (83) - Melano 17, Esteban 10, Bathan 8, Bandigan 7, Pulongbarit 7, Ludovice 6, Vidanes 6, Cruz 4, Canapi 3, Sta. Maria 3, Lapastora 3, Acido 3, Candare 2, Bohol 2.UPIS (24) - Tubongbanua 9, Hallare 8, Poquiz 3, M. Rosete 2, Ryan 2, Lugatiman 0, Hernandez 0, Villanueva, J. Rosete 0, Addatu 0, Pascual 0, Cobico 0, Labao 0, Manguerra 0.Quarterscores: 11-6, 35-9, 60-16, 83-24.

Ateneo de Manila University rallied past Far Eastern University-Diliman in overtime, 86-82, to force a playoff for the second seed in the #UAAPSeason88 boys' basketball tournament on Sunday.

Ateneo de Manila University rallied past Far Eastern University-Diliman in overtime, 86-82, to force a playoff for the second seed in the #UAAPSeason88 boys' basketball tournament on Sunday.

UAAP: Ateneo fends off FEU-Diliman in OT, forces playoff for 2nd seed

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UAAP: Ateneo fends off FEU-Diliman in OT, forces playoff for 2nd seed

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Published March 08, 2026 09:40 PM PHT

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