The FEU Tamaraws proved too much to handle as they dominated Gilas Pilipinas Youth, 83-58, on Monday evening in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
Third-year head coach Sean Chambers relied on his MVP-caliber players Janrey Pasaol, Kirby Mongcopa, and foreign student-athlete Mo Konateh, while also showcasing the debut of prized rookies Cabs Cabonilas and Mark Burgos.
FEU Dominates From Start to Finish
The Morayta-based squad quickly shed the proverbial kid gloves and imposed its experience and cohesion from the opening tip, turning the match into a valuable learning session for the country’s aspiring young standouts.
Despite the lopsided result, the RP Youth side showed flashes of promise behind the efforts of Lino Tubongbanua Jr., Eoin Braga, Shaun Lucido, and Nickson Cabanero, who carried the fight for coach Juno Sauler’s youthful brigade.
Chambers’ wards were all business from the get-go, with FEU’s seasoned core dictating the tempo on both ends of the floor. The Tamaraws unleashed wave after wave of offensive pressure, anchored by the explosive backcourt tandem of Jorick Bautista and Pasaol.
Their relentless attack consistently broke through the youth squad’s defenses, while their disciplined execution and veteran composure proved too much for the national aspirants to handle throughout the contest.
Pasaol kickstarted the rout, scoring six of his 13 points in the first quarter as he shot 3-of-5 from downtown in the wire-to-wire win, where the Tamaraws led by as much as 28 points.
Mongcopa also provided support with his 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jedric Daa added 11 points, while blue-chip rookie Cabs Cabonilas impressed with 9 points and 9 boards.
Learning Experience for Batang Gilas
For the Gilas Youth program, the game served its purpose as a crucial “toughen-up” session ahead of future international competitions, specifically the SEABA Qualifiers happening in the second week of June.
Battling a seasoned collegiate powerhouse like FEU provided the young prospects with a glimpse of the intensity and physicality required at higher levels of competition.
Bruce Tubongbanua was one of the few bright spots for the national youth team, topscoring with 16 points highlighted by a pair of treys. Shaun Lucido added 8 points and 2 rebounds, while Eoin Braga chipped in 7 points and 4 boards.
Though the scoreboard favored the Tamaraws convincingly, the experience gained by the youth squad may prove invaluable moving forward.
Cabs Cabonilas Showcases Excellence
Making his debut for FEU’s seniors’ team was Cabs Cabonilas, a two-time champion and MVP. Chambers looked pleased with his rookie afterwards, lauding the additional firepower he provides.
“Really proud of Cabs. He brings some extra power to us,” said Chambers of his prized recruit.
“I was actually pretty nervous about today’s game because we now have 12 guys who can play, so now you’ve got to figure it out and manage that,” the coach added.
With the FEU Tamaraws serving as the host school for UAAP Season 89, which will open on September 12, expectations are high that the men in green and gold could exceed projections and finally clinch the title.
Other Results
JRU Heavy Bombers – 80, Letran Knights – 70
Benilde Blazers – 71, Perpetual Altas – 62
