By AJ Alarcon

The Ateneo Boys’ Basketball Team faced off with the Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) Baby Tamaraws, who left the Eagles 10 points behind to claim the win during the Asiabasket Youth Campus Tour 2025 held at the FEU-D Sports Complex on Sunday, October 12.

The Eagles relied on Noah Banal throughout the match with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. Jay M Leal came behind Banal to lead with a 13-point, 9-rebound play.

The first point came from Ateneo’s court, to which FEU-D’s Jan Bennett Cagurungan responded with a three-pointer. Banal stepped up to score six consecutive points for Ateneo, with Alfonso Tan raking in a point against FEU-D’s attacks to end the first five minutes with a 10-11 tally in favor of the Tamaraws.

The rest of the first quarter saw defense and offense from both sides of the court, and an exchange of fouls where Zane Kallos scored off for a tie at 17-17.

With half a minute left on the clock and a 19-21 tally, the Eagles fought to overcome the first quarter, but Patrick Sohm unleashed a buzzer-beater shot to end the period at 19-23.

Leal set the momentum for the Blue Eagles in the second quarter, adding two consecutive three-pointers to the score. YJ Lacsamana then brought in two points before Leal hit another basket beyond the line, giving the Eagles their biggest lead and scoring run at 30-23.

But the Tamaraws soon broke the Eagles’ seven-point cushion with a three-pointer and successful free throws to slowly close the gap, though Ethan Kaw answered with another two points to widen it.

A three-pointer from Dexter Santos, followed by another goal, was enough to overcome the gap, 32-33. With over a minute left in the quarter, the ball was entrusted to Q Molina, who did not disappoint with a three-pointer.

FEU-D then gained a two-point lead from free throws before Aiori Aquino scored with just 10 seconds left in the quarter. The first half of the match ended with a 37-37 tally.

Fouls welcomed the third quarter, from which both teams scored, 38-38. Leal tried to break through a 41-41 tie with a score, but Assan Gaye was quick to retaliate with another.

Leal refused a tie, scoring another two points, which was again answered by Gaye’s points off free throws, 45-45. Ateneo replied with another point off the Tamaraws’ fouls before George Value Nwah stepped up for a 50-45 run.

Team Captain Alfonso Tan had to return to the benches after enduring a knee injury in the third-quarter chaos, which ended in the Eagles’ favor.

Zane Kallos gave Ateneo their first point for the last quarter, followed by excellent goals from Nwah, who went against Gaye’s tally with a free throw and a two-pointer for a 55-51 run. However, the Tamaraws went offensive with six consecutive points to bring the score to 55-57.

Attempting to regain the lead, Banal placed a two-pointer on their tally, inducing another tie in the match, 57-57. But FEU-D’s momentum was hard to catch up to for the Eagles as they unleashed a five-point run before Banal broke the streak with successful free throws.

With the score at 60-66, Sam Hall and Cagurungan scored for the Tamaraws, while Banal gave Ateneo their last point with a successful free throw, ending the match at 61-71 in favor of FEU-D.

“Since first preseason game namin [ito] and first time din naming makalaban yung UAAP teams, kinailangan namin yung experience na ‘to,” Ateneo’s Renzo Gatmaitan reflected on the match-up. “Mas okay na ngayon na nangyari sa preseason para come UAAP time, we’ll be ready for those moments.”

Gatmaitan also explained that their preparation was not lacking for this match, rather the initiative of players to step up in crucial moments.

“Fonsi is a key player in our team. So, for him to go down, someone should step up. And I feel like it should come from us [veterans] to lead the rookies in the team. So, next game, we’ll do just that,” he concluded.

The Eagles are set to challenge Adamson University’s Baby Falcons at the home of the National University-Nazareth School (NUNS) Bullpups for their next match in the league.