FAR Eastern University-Diliman and National University Nazareth School opened their respective title retention bids in the UAAP Season 86 High School 3×3 Basketball Boys’ and Girls’ divisions with a spotless Day 1 at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay on Thursday.
The Baby Tamaraws finished the first day of elimination round with a 2-0 record, beating Adamson University, 15-11, and escaping De La Salle-Zobel, 20-18.
Veejay Pre was a man on a mission for FEU-D, tallying five points and 15 rebounds against the Baby Falcons and recording nine points, six rebounds, and three blocks against the Junior Archers.
For the Grade 12 big man, it’s about redemption in his final run in the high school division after failing to defend their crown in the 5-on-5 earlier this year.
“Kailangan namin ma-defend ‘yung title namin and ‘yun nga natalo kami sa 5-on-5 so dito namin babawiin ‘yung gold,” said Pre, a graduating forward.
Dwyne Miranda, Jedric Daa, and Jiro Mecha completed the quartet of the Baby Tamaraws.
Also ending Day 1 in the boys’ side unbeaten was University of Santo Tomas composed of Charles Bucsit, Koji Buenaflor, JB Lim, and Carl Manding.
The Tiger Cubs stunned last year’s runner-up NUNS, 21-10 with 2:09 to spare, while also defeating earlier in the day University of the Philippines Integrated School, 19-13.
Meanwhile, NUNS, Adamson, University of the East, and Ateneo de Manila University all logged a 1-1 record.
The win for the Blue Eagles, who also has Adolf Cruz, Uno Prado, and Patrick Chan in its lineup, came at the expense of the Fighting Maroons in nail-biting fashion as Danger Tupaz drilled the game-winning deuce in overtime, 22-21.
The Bullpups, consisting of Klein Tagotongan, Prince Barraca, and Francis Herrera, got their win over Ateneo, 21-9 with 2:19 remaining as Kurl Figueroa drained the winner.
The Junior Warriors, who played both games with just a three-man lineup of James Malonzo, Jhed Suria, and Ian Cuevas, racked up their first win with an escape of DLSZ, 20-17, but bowed to the Baby Falcons’ Zahir Sajili, Earl Medina, Mark Esperanza, and JR Abayon, 11-16.
In girls’ action, the NUNS’ quartet of Cielo Pagdulagan, Alicia Villanueva, Nicole Pring, and BJ Villarin did not waste time and flexed their muscles right away against the three-woman DLSZ, 22-7, as Candice Udal was not allowed to play due to wrong uniform.
Villanueva had eight points, Pagdulagan got seven, while Pring added six in their win with 48.8 seconds left.
Pagdulagan, last year’s MVP, shared that they’re doing everything in their power for the crown to remain with the Lady Bullpups.
“Kami ‘yung champion last year kaya this year, gusto naming alagaan ‘yung ranking namin na ‘yun, ise-secure ulit namin ‘yung championship,” said Pagdulagan.
Bridesmaid last season, UST started its run with a 21-14 victory over Adamson as Karylle Sierba made it rain with five deuces, solely outscoring their foes with 16 points.
Jannah Wenceslao, Barby Dajao, and Gin Relliquette rounded out the Junior Tigresses’ four.
The Junior Lady Archers quartet of Udal, Erica De Luna, Naima Navarro, and Megan Soriano denied Ateneo de Manila University, 21-14, for a 1-1 slate.
De Luna’s and-one with 17.6 seconds to go sealed the deal for DLSZ.
