FEU gains opener in junior title series

MANILA, Philippines - Joshua Aguilon hit the insurance basket off an outlet pass from Cebuano hotshot Jerie Pingoy as FEU-FERN outlasted National U in overtime, 71-67, to take Game 1 of the UAAP Season 74 juniors basketball finals at the Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

The soon-to-be-named MVP Pingoy, son and namesake of ex-pro Jerie Sr., dished off a long pass to an open Aguilon who scored plus a foul, giving the Baby Tams a 71-67 cushion with 5.1 seconds remaining.

Aguilon (8 points) missed the bonus freebie but his basket was enough to give FEU the headstart in the best-of-three finals.

Adamson Lady Falcons wiped out a seven-point deficit by holding FEU scoreless in the last three minutes to eke out a 60-56 triumph, moving one win away from completing a three-peat in the women’s division.

The Baby Tams and the Lady Falcons will gun for the title on Tuesday, also at the Big Dome.

The 16-year-old Pingoy pumped in 22 points, including back-to-back baskets at the start of the extra period that pushed the Tams to a 67-63 upperhand. He added eight rebounds, four assists and five steals.

“The boys’ confidence is high going to the finals, owing to the victory over La Salle in the Final Four,” said FEU coach Michael Oliver.