‘Phenomenal': FEU rookie Cabonilas impresses in UAAP seniors debut

MANILA, Philippines -- As good as advertised. 

Cabs Cabonilas showed out in his first UAAP seniors’ game, shining bright in Far Eastern University’s narrow loss against the Adamson Soaring Falcons in the Season 89 opener Sunday. 

In his first UAAP seniors’ game, the former UAAP juniors’ Most Valuable Player and Finals Most Valuable Player for the Baby Tamaraws had a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. 

He scored all seven points of FEU in the fourth quarter, but the Tamaraws fell against Adamson, 56-53, in come-from-behind fashion. 

FEU head coach Sean Chambers, after the game, said the “phenomenal” Cabonilas is “a future star” of the country. 

“Cabs was phenomenal. And I felt he was the only one that played freely and that's who Cab is. So we have to make sure that we bounce back next game. So we don't want him to feel that anxiety of trying to do it all,” he said. 

“So he played freely, he got great offensive rebounds, he had putbacks,” he added. 

“Cab is really a future star of the Philippines. Not only in this league, but in the Philippines.” 

With Adamson streaking with a 15-0 run that pushed them ahead, 48-46, it was Cabonilas who broke the blitz with a putback to tie it up at 48-all. 

A pair of Ray Allen Torres gave the Falcons the lead anew, 50-48, before Cabonilas punched in a triple to hand the Tamaraws the lead, 51-50. 

And while he tried to keep FEU in step, Mat Edding and Matty Erolon put the finishing touches in the come-from-behind win. 

Chambers added that he did not think Cabonilas played like a rookie, although there are still some lessons to be learned in playing as a small forward. 

“I thought some of our other guys played a little tight because of the expectations. But Cab played extremely well,” he said. 

“Only thing, he's still learning some of the things we do in playing at the wing. If you know in high school, he played the four position. So we're moving him to advance his game because I ultimately want Cab to be the best professional possible,” he added. 

“So we moved him to the three’s position and that's where he's playing. And that's where he's, you know, he's learning how to play that role there.” 

For his part, Cabonilas said he merely did what the coaches asked him to do. 

“Sa fourth quarter hindi ko akalain yun kasi ginagawa ko rin yung role ko. Kung ano yung role ko, may tiwala naman ako sa mga teammates ko. Kung anong pinapagawa lang, gagawin ko lang, rebound or whatever,” he said.