Miekho Natinga shattered the UAAP event record for most three-pointers made in a single game with 13, leading National University Nazareth School to a commanding 124-41 win over the University of the Philippines Integrated School in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Natinga made history by draining 13 of his 20 attempts from beyond the arc, surpassing the previous record held by De La Salle University’s Luisa San Juan for women (September 25, 2024, Season 87) and Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa (August 22, 2002, Season 65), as well as University of the East legend Allan Caidic (1985, Season 48) for men.
The 19-year-old guard from Bukidnon finished his historic performance by outscoring the entire UPIS team — which managed just 41 points on 13-of-55 shooting — with 44 points on 15-of-22 shooting, adding two rebounds to help NUNS snap a two-game skid and improve to a 3-2 record.
“For this game, yung record ni Miekho, talagang sabi ko sa sarili ko na nakakaproud kasi bihira ka magkaroon ng player na ganito ‘eh — yung may record na nakuha at na-achieve. Mahirap gawin, pero bilang coach niya, talagang masasabi ko na nakakaproud,” Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro said.
NUNS wasted no time finding its rhythm, scoring 61 points and dishing out 22 assists on an efficient 24-of-36 shooting clip, while holding UPIS to just 18 first-half points and forcing 14 turnovers.
In the third period, the Bullpups kept up the pressure. Natinga drained four consecutive triples — highlighted by a four-point play — before hitting a midrange jumper that put UPIS in a 95-27 hole heading into the fourth.
With Napa giving him the green light to chase his milestone, Natinga nailed three more triples to officially break the record at the 112-36, 3:14 mark of the payoff period, then added two more to cement his place in the history books.
“Kanina, grinab ko lang yung opportunity na binigay nila coach sa akin. Nagpa-sub na nga ako kanina kasi talagang nahihiya na ako sa mga teammates ko kasi puro tira. Pero ayon nga, sabi nila coach Jeff at coach Kevin, na sige i-tira mo lang,” said Natinga, who had previously averaged just 3.25 points and 1.0 assist while making only one triple before his record-breaking performance.
Shaun Lucido finished with 21 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Malian center Moussa Diakite contributed all of his 16 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and one assist in the first half.
Mot Matias added four points, 12 assists, four rebounds, and two steals, while Lebron Manding and Rhon-j Matias chipped in six points each.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UPIS, which remained winless through five games, Jhustin Hallare scored 17 points on 5-of-17 shooting, adding three rebounds and three assists, while Bruce Tubongbanua struggled with four points on 1-of-8 shooting and seven turnovers.
Meanwhile, Nigerian center Yusuf Mikailu and Maco Dabao powered De La Salle Zobel to a wire-to-wire 71-45 victory over Adamson University.
With the results, the Junior Archers and the Bullpups are tied for third place with identical 3-2 records heading into the last two game days of the first round.
“I just focused on the recovery of the players. Syempre, with the schedule that we have, kailangan ma-manage yung ganon na mga bagay,” DLSZ head coach Gian Nazario said. “We did a lot of viewing, knowing what the tendency of Adamson is. And Adamson being a young team — I believe most of their players came from the 16-under age group — we respected them because we know they are hungry.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Building on a 16-10 first-quarter performance, the Junior Archers opened the second period with a 16-3 surge, capped by back-to-back triples from Javi Dimayuga and Dabao, along with a Mikailu layup, to take a 32-13 lead before settling for a 38-23 halftime advantage.
DLSZ continued its dominance in the third period, fueled by three straight inside hits from Mikailu, Kio Favis, and Champ Arejola, resulting in a 19-2 run that extended the lead to 57-25 with over three minutes left in the quarter.
Before the Baby Falcons could mount a rally, the Junior Archers dashed their comeback hopes as Dabao drained a midrange jumper, followed by Arejola and captain Ken Atienza converting layups to restore a 65-36 lead with 5:24 remaining.
Dabao finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists, while Mikailu recorded a dominant double-double of 14 points and 23 rebounds, along with two blocks and one assist.
Mark Borrero added eight points, three assists, two rebounds, and one steal, while Atienza contributed six points, three rebounds, and two assists.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Rookie guard Fran Flores led Adamson — which fell to sixth place at 2-3 — with 15 points, five rebounds, one steal, and one assist, while Jarl Artango added nine points, two rebounds, and one steal.
The Scores:
First Game:
NUNS (124) – Natinga 44, Lucido 21, Diakite 16, Manding 6, R. Matias 6, Cartel 5, M. Matias 4, Figueroa 4, Bouzina 4, Sison 4, Tulabut 4, Mann 2, Cabantong 2, Celiz 2, Juan 0, Timbang 0.
UPIS (41) – Hallare 17, Poquiz 7, Addatu 5, Tubongbanua 4, Pascual 3, Cobico 3, Lugatiman 2, M. Rosete 0, Manguerra 0, Labao 0, J. Rosete 0, Ryan 0, Hernandez 0, Villanueva 0.
Quarterscores: 36-9, 61-18, 95-27, 124-41.
Second Game:
DLSZ (71) – Dabao 17, Mikailu 14, Borrero 8, Dimayuga 6, Atienza 6, Ferrer 5, Alpapara 5, Arejola 4, Reyes 3, Favis 2, Tan 1, Luna 0, Llamas 0.
AdU (45) – Flores 15, Artango 9, Bautista 7, Iledan 4, Fragoso 3, Saygo 2, Garcia 2, Jenodia 0, Fongtong 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarterscores: 16-10, 38-23, 59-34, 71-45.
