Malian center Moussa Diakite delivered a career-best performance as National University Nazareth School completed an elimination-round sweep to gain an outright UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Finals berth with a 92–79 victory over University of Santo Tomas, Sunday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Diakite powered the Bullpups with a dominant double-double of 29 points and 27 rebounds — both career highs — along with four blocks and four assists, keeping their bid to reclaim the crown they lost in Season 87 firmly on track.
By completing a 14-game sweep of the eliminations, highlighted by a staggering average winning margin of 24.23 points per game, NUNS triggered a stepladder playoffs for the first time in the division’s young history.
In the other game, Uno Del Monte erupted for 30 points as Adamson University clinched the final spot in the playoffs — while also eliminating defending champion University of the East — with an 85–69 win over also-ran Ateneo de Manila University.
NUNS built a lead as large as 26 points in the opening quarter and carried a 52–33 advantage into halftime. UST, however, inched back in the third period, unleashing a 27–12 run to trim the deficit to 64–60 with 3:32 left.
The Bullpups quickly regained control, responding with a 12–3 counterattack punctuated by a five-point burst from Diakite and a buzzer-beating triple from Ian Manalo to enter the fourth quarter ahead, 76–63.
UST made one last push, with back-to-back triples from Rowie Cabañero and Jacob Datu cutting the lead to 76–69 with 8:11 remaining. But David Sabareza, Mark Arzola, and Diakite combined for a decisive 12–1 run, restoring an 88–70 cushion with 4:19 left to seal the win.
“Swerte kami dahil may Moussa kami na who took over the game talaga. Talagang nung nag-relax na yung mga bata, buti na lang nandoon si Moussa to take over. Sinabihan ko lang din siya to get the rebounds ‘eh, and good thing, kinuha niya lahat,” said Bullpups head coach Leo Pujante.
Sabareza chipped in 20 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Arzola tallied nine points, six assists, four rebounds, and one steal.
Nick Peña added eight points, three assists, and two rebounds, while Dean Tria and Jaypee Yanga contributed six points apiece.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Datu led UST with 17 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Cabañero flirted with a triple-double, tallying 16 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.
CJ Tabbuga added 15 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while Miguel Jubilado finished with nine points, four rebounds, and four assists.
In the later game, the Baby Falcons held a 63–52 lead entering the fourth quarter, but Ateneo stayed within striking distance after an Enzo Divinagracia triple and a JD Juangco floater cut the deficit to 69–60 with 7:33 left.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Adamson, however, leaned on a Fran Flores midrange jumper, an Edison Jordan inside basket, and a Kieff Iledan triple to put the game out of reach, pulling ahead 77–62 with 4:45 remaining.
The victory sealed Adamson’s first-ever Final Four berth in the 16-and-under division, closing the eliminations with a 9–5 record — a remarkable turnaround from a winless Season 86 campaign followed by a 3–11 finish the next year.
The result also ended the Junior Warriors’ title defense, as UE finished at fifth place with an 8–6 record.
“Very, very happy with what has happened here. We’ve been waiting for this for two years. Buti na lang yung boys have answered and stepped up. Even nung first quarter na medyo masama yung galaw ng players, but they came around. Again, this win and this entrance to the Final Four for the first time have made us jubilant,” said Adamson head coach Dante Tongco.
Flores backed up Del Monte with 16 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, and two steals, while Iledan registered 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Jordan struggled with his shot, finishing with nine points on 3-of-12 shooting, but contributed 12 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Meanwhile, the loss pushed the Tiger Cubs into a virtual playoff for the No. 2 seed against the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, with both teams holding identical 9–4 records heading into their Wednesday clash at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The winner will gain a ticket to the knockout semifinals, while the loser will take on Adamson in the knockout quarters.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Juangco led the Blue Eagles with 25 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Divinagracia added 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
The Scores:
First Game
NUNS (92) – Diakite 29, Sabareza 20, Arzola 9, Peña 8, Tria 6, Yanga 6, Lalong-Isip 5, Khobuntin 4, Manalo 3, Gatumbato 2, Liwanag 0, Romero 0.
UST (79) – Datu 17, Cabañero 16, Tabbuga 15, Jubilado 9, Anggot 7, Regala 6, Villacarlos 5, Castro 4, Bathan 0, Retaga 0.
Quarterscores: 36-12, 52-33, 76-63, 92-79.
Second Game
AdU (85) – Del Monte 30, Flores 16, Iledan 15, E. Jordan 9, Vengco 5, Abas 4, A. Jordan 2, Padrejuan 2, Esma 2, Vargas 0.
Ateneo (69) – Juangco 25, Divinagracia 10, Ngo 9, Dela Rosa 7, G. Yoro 4, Ylen 4, David 4, Castro 2, Bernarte 2, Cayabyab 2, M. Yoro 0, Llavore 0, Hwang 0.
Quarterscores: 17-15, 43-36, 63-50, 85-69.
