Late rally falls short as Baby Falcons begin title defense with narrow loss vs FEU-D
Date Posted: January 20, 2025 at 03:36 PM

Photo: UAAP Media Team
The Baby Falcons began their UAAP Boys’ Basketball championship defense with a close 71-75 setback against Far Eastern University (FEU)-Diliman in the opening game of Season 87 yesterday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
A spirited fourth-quarter comeback was not enough as Adamson yielded to the Baby Tamaraws led by Gilas youth standouts Cabs Cabonilas and Mark Burgos, who both tallied double-double performances.
The Mike Fermin-mentored squad showed grit throughout the game, rallying from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter. Behind Mark Esperanza, Henry Penafiel, Earl Medina, and CJ Umali, the Baby Falcons orchestrated a 19-8 run, slicing the Tamaraws’ lead to just 70-69 with 1:37 remaining. However, Cabonilas answered with a clutch three-pointer and a free throw to secure the win for FEU-Diliman.
Esperanza, the UAAP 86 finals MVP, spearheaded Adamson’s efforts with 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Medina contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and a block, while Penafiel impressed in his debut, tallying 12 points, built on four three-pointers.
The Baby Falcons will try to bounce back against University of the East this Thursday, January 23, at the same venue.
The Scores:
FEU-D (75) — Cabonilas 25, Burgos 19, Salangsang 17, Pascual 8, Raneses 2, Castillejos 2, De Guzman 2, Godoy 0, Hall 0, Gemao 0, Maierhofer 0, Esperanza 0.
Adamson (71) — Esperanza 19, Medina 14, Peñafiel 12, Perez 7, Umali 7, Matillano 4, De Jesus 4, Sajili 2, Abayon 2, Tumaneng 0, Artango 0.
Quarterscores: 17-10, 31-26, 43-46, 75-71