In a showdown between two undefeated teams, National University Nazareth School stood tall, outpacing Far Eastern University-Diliman with a dominant 75-58 victory to remain the only unbeaten squad in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys Basketball Tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Sunday.
After a commanding 39-25 halftime advantage, the Bullpups never looked back, securing their third consecutive win while handing the Baby Tamaraws their first loss of the season.
Through their three-game streak, NUNS holds an impressive average winning margin of 16.6 points.
“Medyo masaya kasi nakuha namin yung panalo, pero marami pa rin talaga room for improvement. Mahaba pa yung season, third win pa lang namin pero marami pa need matutunan. Pero after this game, we’re very happy naman dahil nasunod yung game plan,” said Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro.
The Baby Tamaraws made a push in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to within 12 points after a free throw by Sam Hall.
However, the Bullpups responded quickly with a 10-4 run, entering the fourth quarter with a commanding 57-39 lead.
That run gave NUNS the breathing room they needed, and they held off any further comeback attempts by FEU-D, finishing with a 19-18 fourth quarter performance to extend their winning streak to three games.
The loss was made even more bitter for the Baby Tamaraws after a disqualifying foul was called on Xyrus Gemao following an altercation with Alnhumaeri Usop with 17.3 seconds left in the game.
Reigning MVP Collins Akowe led the charge for the Bullpups with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, along with 10 rebounds, two blocks, and one steal while Macmac Alfanta added 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
After convincing victories over the Baby Falcons and the Blue Eagles in their first two games, the Baby Tamaraws suffered their first loss of the season.
Gilas Youth member Cabs Cabonilas was limited to 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting, alongside eight rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
FEU-D dropped to 2-1, dropping to a tie with earlier day winners University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle-Zobel, and University of the East.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Tiger Cubs dominated reigning champions Adamson Soaring Falcons, 84-68; the Junior Archers outlasted archrivals Ateneo Blue Eagles, 73-65; and the Junior Warriors vented their ire on lowly UP Integrated School Junior Maroons, 104-60.
The Baby Falcons cut a 19-point deficit to just 56-54 heading into the final period. However, the Tiger Cubs relied on Senegalese forward Racine Kane, graduating forward Charles Bucsit, and Gilas Pilipinas Boys member Charles Esteban to dominate the fourth quarter with a 28-14 run to seal the win.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, magrrun ‘yan, babalik ‘yan dahil champion team yan. Hindi yan papayag matalo ng basta-basta. I just reminded them in the third quarter na kahit makabalik sila, we have to make our own run. And buti naka-respond naman kami nung fourth,” said UST head coach Manu Iñigo.
Kane continued his stellar play with 19 points, 12 rebounds, five steals, one assist, and one block.
Bucsit poured in 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, adding five rebounds and four assists while Esteban contributed 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
DLSZ relied on Kieffer Alas and Bonn Daja to overcome a resilient Ateneo side in a nail-biter.
Alas scored eight of the Junior Archers’ 13 fourth-quarter points, while Daja delivered clutch back-to-back and-one layups in overtime to secure the victory.
Alas, a member of last season’s Mythical Team, finished with a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block. Daja added 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocks.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UE’s balanced attack featured eight players scoring at least eight points.
Kristopher Lagat led the charge with 14 points, including 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, while Lance Sabroso added 13 points, two assists, one rebound, and one steal.
Louie Bual contributed 10 points, three steals, and two rebounds, with Xedric Diaz adding nine points and four assists.
Ivorian center Jean Bana, Edry Alejandro, Kyle Timbol, and Mhico Abellar also chipped in solid performances to cap off the commanding win.
Mark Esperanza led the Baby Falcons in their second loss with 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals.
Earl Medina added 12 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal, while CJ Umali chipped in 12 points with four rebounds and two steals. Zahir Sajili finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Ateneo’s Jay Leal paced the Blue Eagles with 14 points, six rebounds, and one steal.
Ziv Espinas posted a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, five steals, and two assists as Chris Urbina, Ateneo’s leading scorer in their previous game, was limited to 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting but contributed seven rebounds and three assists.
For UPIS, Jhustin Hallare tallied 17 points and eight rebounds, while Ethan Egea and Jaime Gomez de Liaño chipped in 13 points apiece.
Adamson went down to 1-2 while Ateneo and UPIS have yet to rack up a win.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the girls’ division, UST joined NUNS at the top after overpowering De La Salle Zobel with a dominant 112-50 victory.
The Junior Growling Tigresses, the co-champions of the inaugural tournament back in UAAP Season 82 with the Adamson Baby Falcons, wasted no time making their presence felt, with 16-year-old guard Rhiane Perez leading the charge.
Rhiane Perez, a Grade 10 student from Iloilo, erupted for 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, along with seven rebounds, four steals, and three assists, as UST showcased their strength under head coach Arsenio Dysangco, who took over the program from Aileen Grajales in Season 82.
“After a long vacation nung aming girls, nags-tart na rin kami bumalik sa training where medyo off pa yung timing. Pero today, I’m very happy sa naging effort ng girls and with the way we played, we still have a lot to learn and correct pero given enough time, I’m sure they will get that rhythm going,” Dysangco shared.
Perez was well-supported by Jannah Wenceslao, who posted a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds with three steals.
Kassandra Tambawan also had an impressive outing, finishing with 13 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting, adding six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal.
Grachelle Boteros contributed 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
UST’s next test will come against Ateneo de Manila University next Sunday, February 2, at the same time and venue.
For DLSZ, Erica de Luna led the charge in the losing effort with 15 points, four rebounds, and one steal.
Sofia Martinez added 10 points, three rebounds, and one assist.
The Scores:
First Game
UE (104) – Lagat 14, Sabroso 13, Bual 10, Diaz 9, Alejandro 9, Bana 9, Timbol 8, Abellar 8, Aguas 4, Roquid 4, Almanza 4, Chua 3, Farochilen 3, Lorenzo 2, Dahino 2, Cuevas 2.
UPIS (60) – Hallare 17, Egea 13, Gomez de Liaño 13, Tubongbanua 7, Melicor 5, Pascual 3, Addatu 2, Coronel 0, Hernandez 0, Gepitan 0, Cobico 0, Rosete 0, Uvero 0, Poquiz 0.
Quarterscores: 30-16, 55-26, 74-45, 104-60.
Second Game
DLSZ (73) – Alas 22, Daja 10, Dabao 8, Arejola 8, Borrero 6, Espinosa 6, Thailand 4, Favis 4, Mben 2, Gubat 2, Atienza 1, Reguera 0.
Ateneo (65) – Leal 14, Espinas 12, Urbina 11, Ymasa 8, Lagdamen 6, Tan 4, Lacsamana 4, Reyes 3, Kallos 2, Delos Santos 1, Asistio 0.
Quarterscores: 15-17, 32-33, 48-44, 61-61, 73-65.
Third Game
UST (84) – Kane 19, Bucsit 18, Esteban 14, Canete 7, Manding 7, Acido 7, Buenaflor 6, Ludovice 3, Bandingan 3, Cinco 0, Solon 0, Catalan 0, Bohol 0.
AdU (68) – Esperanza 16, Medina 12, Umali 12, Sajili 11, Artango 4, Murillo 4, Abayon 4, De Jesus 4, Perez 1, Jenodia 0, Garcia 0, Matilliano 0.
Quarterscores: 19-5, 37-25, 56-54, 84-68.
Fourth Game
NUNS (75) – Akowe 19, Alfanta 10, Cartel 9, Nepacena 8, Usop 8, Palanca 6, Solomon 5, Locsin 4, Napa 3, Lucido 2, Bouzina 1, Matias 0, Figueroa 0, Casala 0, Natinga 0.
FEU-D (58) – Cabonilas 11, Raneses 10, Gemao 9, Pascual 8, Salangsang 8, Hall 5, Burgos 4, Castillejos 2, De Guzman 1, Maierhofer 0, Santos 0, Cagurungan 0.
Quarterscores: 25-13, 39-25, 57-39, 75-58.
Fifth Game
UST (112) – Perez 21, Wenceslao 17, Tambawan 13, Boteros 12, Dajao 9, Onate 9, Pinuela 6, Floreindo 6, Abrantes 5, Anonuevo 3, Villarin 3, Insoy 2, Banate 2, Petalcorin 2, Arciaga 2.
DLSZ (50) – De Luna 15, Martinez 10, Cordero 8, Notarte 6, Navarro 5, Reyes 3, Ogario 3, Vivanco 0, Dominguez 0, Poral 0.
Quarterscores: 27-13, 54-20, 81-32, 112-50.
