By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Adi Alagaban delivered a breakout performance as the Far Eastern University – Diliman (FEU-D) Baby Tamaraws closed the first round of the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball tournament with a hard-earned 83-76 win over Adamson University at the Adamson Gym on Sunday, February 1.

Alagaban buried five three-pointers for 15 points, including two late daggers that sealed FEU-D’s fifth straight victory and lifted the Baby Tamaraws into a share of first place with Ateneo de Manila University at 6-1.

FEU-D took control midway through the third quarter after Adamson cut the deficit to 48-47.

Alagaban then knocked down a triple, and Marc Burgos followed with back-to-back three-pointers to fuel a decisive 13-1 run that gave the Baby Tamaraws a 61-48 cushion.

Khean Esperanza later stretched the lead to 78-64 on a layup with four minutes remaining, but Adamson made one last push as Kieff Iledan and Bill Garcia scored back-to-back baskets to trim the gap to 78-70.

FEU-D stayed composed in the closing minutes.

Burgos split his free throws, Cabs Cabonilas finished inside, and Alagaban drilled another three to restore an insurmountable 83-71 lead with 1:58 left.

Esperanza and Burgos paced FEU-D with 19 points each, while Cabonilas added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, along with five assists.

Baby Tamaraws coach Mike Reyes admitted his team needed a wake-up call at halftime.

“I feel we lacked aggressiveness when we started the game, but at the start of the third, we were more aggressive on defense,” Reyes said.

“That’s what we talked about in the dugout. You can’t play like this in the UAAP because all seven teams can win at any time,” he added.

Mac Jenodia led Adamson with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Iledan also had 16 points and nine rebounds, while Sean Artango added 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block./ASC, WDJ