FEU-Diliman's Anton Lopez in action against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Boys' Basketball Tournament, November 30, 2024 at the Araneta Coliseum. UAAP Media

MANILA -- Far Eastern University-Diliman has great momentum heading into the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Boys' Basketball Tournament.

This, after they routed the Zane Kallos-less Ateneo de Manila University, 69-55, to close the elimination round on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

This was the Baby Tamaraws' sixth straight win, giving them a 12-2 win-loss record.

They will take on the third-ranked University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs in the Final Four on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

In the other pairing, top-seeded University of the East Junior Warriors face inaugural champions National University Nazareth School Bullpups.

It was a perfect warmup for the Baby Tamaraws, according to head coach Muriel Garcia.

"Kung ano yung sakit na naramdaman namin sa second round, binabaon namin 'yon at ginagawa naming experience 'yon. Sinasabi ko na hindi ka naman mabubuhay sa dumaan na, pero sabi ko sa kanila, kung ano yung galit at inis natin, palitan natin ng trabaho at panalo sa Final Four," said the outspoken head coach.

Consecutive three-pointers from Anton Lopez, Duke Santos, Denden Enriquez, and CP Miranda allowed the Baby Tamaraws to convert a slim 39-33 lead to a comfortable 53-41 lead heading into the payoff period.

Powered by the likes of Prince Carino, Kierdy Victoria, Lopez, and Miranda, FEU-D sealed its sixth straight victory with an 11-0 run, sending Ateneo down a game-high 68-49 hole with 4:06 remaining.

Lopez led the Baby Tamaraws with 16 points, two steals, one rebound, and one assist, while Victoria ended the day with nine points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals on a game-high plus-21 efficiency in 15 minutes and 56 seconds of play.

Santos chipped in eight points, four assists, and one rebound, while Mark Dulin nearly tallied a double-double with seven points and 14 rebounds to go along with two steals and one block.

Kallos, the MVP frontrunner after the first round, missed Ateneo's final game of the season due to a left knee injury.

In the final game of the elimination round, De La Salle-Zobel ended its campaign on a high note, trumping Adamson University, 73-59.

With this, the Junior Archers finished fifth with a 6-8 record followed by the Blue Eagles at 5-9.

The Baby Falcons (3-11) and the UPIS Fighting Maroons (0-14) are at the bottom of the standings.

Vince Magan scored a game-high 26 points to go along with 10 rebounds, five steals, and three assists, while Melvin Tailan tallied 23 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals for DLSZ.

In addition, Jayden Centeno chipped in seven points, two rebounds, two steals, and one assist, while Duncan Tan contributed five points and six rebounds.

"Yung positives naman ay we were still there in the battle for the Final Four. Every year naman, lagi kami nagpprepare at naghahanda para sa mission namin na makapasok na Final Four. Kinapos na naman ngayon, pero next year pangako na mas paghahandaan namin," Junior Archers head coach Penny Laureaga said.

In Kallos' absence, Domeng Ngo stepped up with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Q Molina chipped in 10 points, five assists, and two rebounds.

Sky Jazul also scored 10 points to go along with three rebounds and two steals, while JD Juangco contributed an all-around statline with seven points, four rebounds, and four assists.

Edison Jordan paced the Baby Falcons with 20 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Aurelio Fransman contributed 12 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

Craig Fongtong chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one assist, while Prince Banate nearly tallied a double-double with nine points, eight rebounds, one steal, and one block.

The Scores:

First Game:

FEU-D (69) - Lopez 16, Victoria 9, Santos 8, Carino 8, Dulin 7, Miranda 7, Enriquez 6, Pasinos 6, Lassiter 2, Pineda 0, Pingris 0, Diaz 0, Daa 0, Adriano 0, Chavez 0.

Ateneo (55) - Ngo 12, Molina 10, Jazul 10, Juangco 7, Lacsamana 5, Fernandez 4, Bernarte 3, Pineda 3, Ylen 1, Meresen 0, Dela Rosa 0, Ramos 0, Valte 0, Divinagracia 0, Hwang 0.

Quarterscores: 21-16, 34-25, 53-41, 69-55.

Second Game:

DLSZ (73) - Magan 26, Tailan 23, Centeno 7, Apao 5, Tan 5, Fuentes 3, Llamas 2, Villaruz 2, Rivera 0, Maglipon 0, E. Purugganan 0, I. Puruggunan 0, Mindanao 0.

AdU (59) - E. Jordan 20, Fransman 12, Fongtong 10, Banate 9, A. Jordan 5, Tiamzon 3, Azurias 0, Ondevilla 0, Tuazon 0, Alcantara 0, Ang 0.

Quarterscores: 16-12, 35-33, 51-46, 73-59.