De La Salle-Zobel took the early lead in the UAAP Season 89 16-and-under basketball tournament after an 86-60 romp over Adamson University on Friday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Junior Archers, coming off an equally impressive 101-83 win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Saturday, had a balanced attack this time around, with five players scoring in double figures.
Rye Villaruz, who posted 24 points and 11 rebounds against Ateneo, tallied 16 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks against Adamson.
Enzo Purugganan added 15 points and eight steals, while Mikko Noel contributed 12 points, six steals, and six rebounds. James Enriquez chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds, then Fonzie Mercado had 10 points.
The Junior Archers are now 2-0 under first-year head coach Hyram Bagatsing as they are determined to rebound from a winless campaign last season.
“Pretty happy. I think we were able to execute more or less what we prepared for. I like the output of everyone, balanced in scoring and shared the ball. We lessened our turnovers as well,” said Bagatsing.
Already leading 42-34 at halftime, the Junior Archers turned it up on both ends in the third quarter, holding the Baby Falcons to just 11 points on 38.5 percent shooting.
On the other end, DLSZ intensified its pressing defense, forcing Adamson into nine turnovers during the period that led to 17 points.
Bagatsing said having the Purugganan twins, Enzo and Ice, as holdovers and leaders of the Junior Archers has helped stabilize the squad.
“The veteran presence of the twins really helps stabilize the other guys. It’s a good combination of the new guys and the old ones. It also helped that we were able to prepare longer by joining some preseason leagues,” said Bagatsing, with the twins having been part of last season’s 0-14 squad.
(C) UAAP Media Team
Later in the day, the University of Santo Tomas notched its first win after escaping University of the Philippines Integrated School, 86-77.
“Sobrang nangangapa pa kami,” said Junior Tiger Cubs head coach Noli Mejos, whose team was coming off a 75–100 loss to the NUNS Bullpups on opening day.
Mejos fielded all 15 Cubs in the contest as he continues to mix and match his combinations, especially with the season debuts of Mac Macasarte, Rayden Umbana, Kishan Samaniego, and Eldon Eusebio.
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Surprisingly, the Fighting Maroons jumped out to a 9-0 lead and held a 45-41 advantage at halftime, with Kean Poquiz and Zandro Lugatiman combining for 30 points.
The Junior Tiger Cubs took control after the break, erupting for 26 points in the third quarter to build a 67-57 lead entering the final frame — a cushion they would not relinquish.
The lead reached as high as 15 points, 76-61, after a Miguel Austria basket early in the fourth quarter.
“Hahanapin pa namin yung mga tamang kombinasyon kasi mabigat na naman yung susunod naming kalaban,” said Mejos, with UST set to face the FEU-Diliman Baby Tamaraws on August 29 at the Adamson Gym.
Austria led UST with a monster double-double of 28 points and 26 rebounds, along with four assists, three steals, and three blocks.
Macasarte and Umbana added 20 and 13 points, respectively, with Umbana also grabbing 16 rebounds.
(C) UAAP Media Team
Both Adamson and UPIS fell to 0-2, with UE versus NUNS and Ateneo versus FEU-D still playing as of publishing.
Poquiz finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Lugatiman had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists for the Fighting Maroons.
Raymond Chan paced the Baby Falcons with 17 points, while Carl Espiritu added 11. Derren Sepnio chipped in nine points and 12 rebounds.
The Scores:
First Game:
DLSZ 86 – Villaruz 16, Purugganan E. 15, Noel 12, Enriquez 11, Mercado 10, Dizon 7, Quillo 5, Francisco 4, Purugganan I. 2, Santiago 2, Paceno 2, Buenafe 0.
ADU 69 – Chan 17, Espiritu 11, Sepnio De. 9, Maycong 9, Timtiman 8, Edrada 5, Gayatin 4, Caintic 2, Cads 2, Sepnio Dw. 2, Bulan 0, Thompson 0.
Quarterscores: 21-15, 42–34, 65-45, 86-69.
Second Game:
UST 86 – Austria 28, Macasarte 20, Umbana 13, Cuello 5, Anggot 5, Duenas 5, Bathan 3, Retaga 2, Olango 2, Samaniego 2, Abototo 1, Eusebio 0, Cabañero 0, Collado 0, Esusan 0.
UPIS 77 – Poquiz 29, Lugatiman 19, Bautista 10, David 7, Floirendo 6, Labao 4, Santos 2, Sebastian 0, Romey 0.
Quarterscores: 19-23, 41-45, 67-57, 86-77.
