Eaglets cop 16th title; FEU bags women's crown

Ateneo made it a double championship in the UAAP Season 71 as the Blue Eaglets scored their own two-game conquest of the FEU Baby Tamaraws for the juniors plum at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Displaying awesome firepower, the Eaglets clobbered the Baby Tams, 71-60, for the clincher witnessed by a big crowd including the members of the triumphant Ateneo seniors team.

“I’d be lying if I say we’re not feeling the pressure. Everybody was expecting us to win. I’m glad we did,” said coach Jamike Jarin as his team duplicated the feat of the Ateneo seniors squad marking the first time the Katipunan-based school won the two UAAP crowns in the same season.

Ateneo did the feat in the NCAA in 1933, 1937, 1975 and 1976.

The Eaglets, who took the opener, 72-62, last week, clinched their 16th title.

Ateneo holds a bonfire celebration at the Loyola campus Tuesday.

Jayvee Dumrique, Magic Tiongson, Ian Enriquez and Kevin Gamboa came through with sterling efforts in their farewell game for the team.

Dumrique was named the Finals MVP after putting in 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals to cap his remarkable stint with the Eaglets.

“He’s a winner ever since,” said Jarin of his brainy guard whose style of play he likened to LA Tenorio and Eric Salamat.

Earlier, FEU also swept State U, 52-46, for the women’s championship.

Raiza Palmera fired a game-high 15 points with series MVP Bernadette Mercado adding 11.

“Maybe we’re the first team to win a championship without even a player in the Mythical Five,” said FEU coach Michael Oliver. “That’s because we thrived on team play.”