David Sabareza may not have always grabbed the headlines, but when National University Nazareth School needed a steady hand, the 16-year-old guard delivered.
While Moussa Diakite, Mark Arzola, Clark Khobuntin, and Nick Pena lit up highlight reels during NUNS’ flawless run in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament, it was Sabareza who quietly anchored the team’s historic campaign.
One of only three holdovers from the Bullpups squad that finished fourth in Season 87, Sabareza carried a heavy responsibility at a young age: guiding NUNS to its first official UAAP 16-and-under basketball championship.
A spectator during the Bullpups’ demonstration tournament victory in Season 86 (2024), the 6-foot-1 guard was ready to take the reins when the stakes were highest.
And he did so in spectacular fashion.
Against a tough Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws roster in the best-of-three Finals, Sabareza displayed poise beyond his years, capping off his UAAP 16U career as Finals MVP. He averaged 23.5 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals across the two-game championship series.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
But the Antipolo, Rizal native downplayed his personal accolades, insisting that the perfect campaign was the product of the team’s collective effort.
“Siguro for me, yung pagiging [Finals] MVP, hindi lang para sa akin kasi hindi lang naman ako yung nagtrabaho sa court,” Sabareza said after contributing 17 points, six assists, three rebounds, and three steals in Game 2.
“Lahat kami nagtrabaho para makuha itong championship and nagtulungan kami sa court.”
As he departs the 16-and-under division, Sabareza leaves not just as a champion, but as a more matured athlete and a seasoned leader ready for the brighter lights of UAAP’s competitive 19-and-under stage.
His greatest wish, however, remains seeing the Bullpups—who will face a rebuilding campaign in Season 89 with 12 graduates leaving the division—continue to play with the same hunger, effort, and trust that made them the winningest UAAP 16U team in history.
“Siguro yung pagiging masipag nila at tuloy-tuloy lang dapat yung effort na ginawa nila ngayon. Kumbaga, doblehin dapat nila itong effort palagi at magtiwala sila sa system ng coaches,” he said.
“Tiwala lang din talaga sa sarili at kay God.”
