FEU triumphs; TikTok find Goodluck fuels UE

Goodluck Okebata (with ball), discovered on TikTok, delivers for UE. —PHOTOS BY UAAP MEDIA

Far Eastern University (FEU) coach Arwind Santos said payback was the last thing on his mind when the Baby Tamaraws their championship tormentors last season.

All Santos cared about was improving the team, especially on defense.

“We weren’t thinking about getting back at them,” Santos said after FEU defeated National University Nazareth School, 89-71, on Saturday for a share of the early lead in the UAAP Season 87 junior high school basketball championship.

“We are focused on the talents and skills of our players,” he added.

Six Baby Tamaraws scored in double figures for FEU, with Prince Cariño logging 14 points and nine rebounds. CP Miranda, son of FEU head of basketball operations and the school’s former star Denok Miranda, produced 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Mark Dulin, Duke Santos and Carl Diaz scored 11 points each while Anton Lopez had 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, to go with two steals.

Prince Cariño (with ball) led FEU with 14 points and nine boards.

Defense a priority

Last year’s runner-up won its second straight game to share the early lead. The Baby Tamaraws also sent the Bullpups to a second straight defeat, establishing themselves now as the title favorite.

And Santos wants the team to keep its lofty status by improving its defense.

“Our motivation is to bring back our ability to defend from backcourt to frontcourt,” Santos said. “Our pressure defense is our priority.”

University of the East (UE) also soared to a second straight victory by crushing the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS), 91-44.

And at the helm of the win was 14-year-old Filipino-Nigerian Goodluck Okebata—who hails from Iloilo and was discovered, of all places, on TikTok.

Okebata had 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead UE, a performance that seemed to surprise no one on the squad.

“That’s why we recruited him,” said Junior Warriors coach Andrew Estrella. “We know his potential. He has a bright future.”

“He knows that. I don’t even have to praise him for [his contributions]. He’s a hard worker and whatever you see from him on the court, he is twice as hardworking in practice. That’s why he’s like that,” Estrella added.

Neil Garcia contributed 14 points and seven rebounds for the Junior Warriors. Gab Delos Reyes collected 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jared Ferreros and Jolo Pascual had 10 points each.

UPIS also dropped to 0-2. INQ