Anfernee Estacio drilled 25 points as the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws won over the Adamson Baby Falcons, 67-59, yesterday at the start of the second round of the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament.
Estacio knocked in eight points during an early third quarter blitz that powered the Baby Tamaraws to their seventh win in eight matches at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
Estacio’s two charities and two triples in the last 6:35 came during a 12-0 blast, which moved the Baby Tams away from a 36-33 edge, and in to a 48-36 spread midway in the third.
This allowed the Baby Tams to stay close behind the unbeaten Nazareth School-National University Bullpups (7-0).
The Baby Falcons, with do-it-all swingman John Figueroa as the surprise leader in the MVP race after the first round, are in fourth a 4-4 with the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs.
The Tiger Cubs, with Rojan Montemayo leading with 19 points, prevailed over University of the East, 90-64.
Meanwhile, the 6’2” Figueroa, an 11th grader had 68.86 statistical points (SPs) after the first round, off his averages of 12.14 points, 14.29 rebounds, 1.86 assists, 1.43 steals, and 1.43 blocks per game.
National University-Nazareth School big man Kevin Quiambao is in second with accumulated 67.29 SPs.
The 18-year-old Quiambao, who is 6’4” and in his final year, averages 12.71 points, 10.71 rebounds, 1.71 blocks, and 1.43 assists per game for the 7-0 Bullpups.
Estacio is in fourth with 67 SPs after posting numbers of 17.14 points, 6.14 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.71 steals, while University of the Philippines’ Sean Torculas and Ateneo’s Lebron Lopez are in fourth and fifth respectively.
Earlier, the Adamson Lady Baby Falcons and University of Santo Tomas Junior Tigresses won over their respective foes to take the historic first wins at the start of the Girls’ Basketball competition, Saturday at the Paco Arena.
The Lady Baby Falcons drew 24 points and 14 rebounds from Mia Miguel as they dominated the Lady Eaglets, 121-44.
The Junior Tigresses, with Erika Danganan making 21 points, stunned heavily favored De La Salle Zobel, 63-45, in the opening game of the tournament, which is a demo sport.