Clark Khobuntin’s triple-double performance powered National University Nazareth School past Adamson University, 93-82, keeping the Bullpups unbeaten in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Coming off averages of just 6.0 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 0.75 assists in NUNS’ first four games, Khobuntin exploded for this season’s first triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals, and one block.
His all-around effort helped the Bullpups secure their fifth straight victory, maintaining an average winning margin of 20.4 points per game.
Khobuntin’s feat marked the tournament’s fourth-ever triple-double, following Season 87 Mythical Five member Andwele Cabañero, who posted 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists in University of Santo Tomas’ 105-71 victory over Ateneo de Manila University on November 27, 2024.
Behind Khobuntin’s outing, NUNS strengthened its hold on solo first place in the eight-team field, creating a two-game cushion over joint second-placers defending champion University of the East (3-1) and Far Eastern University-Diliman (3-1).
“Yung defense pa rin namin need i-improve. Para sa amin kasi, it all starts with the defense. Yun need namin i-polish heading into the next game,” NUNS head coach Leo Pujante said.
Tied at 23-all after the opening period, Mark Arzola led NUNS’ 16-0 run early in the second quarter, scoring eight points before the trio of Khobuntin, Nick Peña, and Dean Tria helped the Bullpups open a 20-point halftime lead at 60-40 — a gap Adamson could not overcome.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Although Adamson briefly cut the third-quarter deficit to 79-65 following an Allison Jordan triple and a Vengs Vengco layup with 6:05 remaining, NUNS quickly regained control. Moussa Diakite scored six straight points, and David Sabareza added a layup to push the lead to 87-68 with just over four minutes left.
Diakite finished with 20 points and eight rebounds before fouling out with 2:26 remaining, while Arzola contributed 18 points, six assists, five steals, and two rebounds. Sabareza added 15 points, two steals, and two rebounds, and Peña chipped in 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
“Basketball is a team game kasi, hindi dapat sa isang tao lang para manalo. Kailangan pa rin talaga ni Moussa (Diakite) ng backup tulad niya. Not only Clark, but all of them have to perform. Yun din naman kabilin-bilinan ko sa kanila ‘eh, na huwag aasa kay Moussa,” Pujante added.
For Adamson, Kieff Iledan led the way with 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Fran Flores managed 14 points on 3-of-9 shooting but still contributed eight rebounds, five assists, five steals, and two blocks.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the later game, Ateneo de Manila University cruised to its second straight win, dominating a winless University of the Philippines Integrated School team, 87-40.
Building on their breakthrough victory against the DLSZ Junior Archers last Sunday, the Blue Eagles raced to an 18-7 lead after the opening period and extended their advantage to 41-22 by halftime.
Ateneo maintained momentum as Domeng Ngo, Sky dela Rosa, Sky Jazul, and Stef Bernarte took turns scoring, pushing the lead to 67-30 after three quarters — effectively securing solo sixth place with a 2-3 record.
“We’re so blessed na nakuha namin yung dalawang straight na panalo, but we’re very far kung saan namin gusto makarating. We have a lot of adjustments to do, especially our next two games against UST and NU. We have to prepare for it,” Ateneo head coach Jeffrey Mangubat said.
Jazul led the way with 24 points on six triples, adding three rebounds and three steals.
JD Juangco provided solid support with 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block.
Dela Rosa contributed 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting, five rebounds, and four steals, while Ngo added eight points, three rebounds, and two steals.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
John Addatu led UP with 16 points, seven rebounds, and two steals, followed by Kean Poquiz with 13 points, five rebounds, and two blocks.
The Scores:
First Game
NUNS (93) – Diakite 20, Arzola 18, Khobuntin 17, Sabareza 15, Peña 10, Tria 6, Lalong-Isip 3, Gatumbato 2, Yanga 2, Manalo 0, Liwanag 0, Romero 0.
AdU (82) – Iledan 24, Flores 14, E. Jordan 13, Vengco 12, A. Jordan 7, Del Monte 6, Padrejuan 4, Abas 2, Adrade 0, Maycong 0, Vargas 0.
Quarterscores: 23-23, 60-40, 77-58, 93-82.
Second Game
Ateneo (87) – Jazul 24, Juangco 13, Dela Rosa 11, Ngo 8, Bernarte 6, Cayabyab 6, Ylen 4, David 4, Saw 3, Divinagracia 2, Hwang 2, Fresnido 2, G. Yoro 2, Castro 0, M. Yoro 0, Llavore 0.
UPIS (40) – Addatu 16, Poquiz 13, Rosete 5, Labao 2, Baldovino 2, Bautista 1, David 1, Manguerra 0, Okebata 0, Lugatiman 0, Floirendo 0, Sebastian 0.
Quarterscores: 18-7, 41-22, 67-30, 87-40.
