National University Nazareth School and Far Eastern University-Diliman shared the early lead in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys Basketball Tournament after decisive victories over separate opponents on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Bullpups cruised past the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, 91-69, while the Baby Tamaraws fended off a tough challenge from the Ateneo Blue Eagles, earning an 82-72 win.
Both teams now hold 2-0 records heading into their much-anticipated clash on Sunday.
Reigning MVP Collins Akowe led the Bullpups with another dominant performance, tallying 21 points, 21 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks to complement their earlier 71-60 win against the UST Tiger Cubs.
“Great win para sa amin, pero syempre hindi naman doon natatapos yung season. Tapos ang next game pa namin medyo challenge, FEU-D. Coming into this game, kunin natin itong first two games, para pagdating ng third game against FEU, maganda yung bwelo natin,” said Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Marc Burgos, fresh off a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double against defending champion Adamson University, stayed hot with 15 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals for FEU-D.
“Medyo yung depensa namin hindi ganoon ka-solid ngayon. Pero kami kahit ganoon, ittake advantage lang namin yung strengths namin which is yung mga big man at sa rebounding,” noted FEU-D head coach Denok Miranda.
Ivler Napa, son of NU Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa, contributed 13 points, while Macmac Alfanta and Usop added 11 each.
Migs Palanca flirted with a double-double, finishing with eight points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one steal as Jid Locsin also stood out with six points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block.
Mico Pascual finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists, while Cabs Cabonilas contributed 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and one steal for the Baby Tamaraws.
Defending champion Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas rebounded from opening-day losses with convincing wins over University of the East (75-66) and UP Integrated School (98-45), respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Adamson leaned on Mark Esperanza, Earl Medina, and Zahir Sajili to overcome a narrow halftime deficit and pull away late.
“We’re relieved kasi we got our first win of the season. Just goes to show na yung team is erratic pa kasi the feeling is we’re still longing for a leader,” admitted Adamson head coach Mike Fermin.
Allen Perez paced the Baby Falcons with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Medina and Esperanza combined for 32 points, 11 assists, and eight steals.
UST, meanwhile, delivered the most lopsided win in UAAP boys’ basketball since the pandemic, dominating UPIS from start to finish.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Senegalese forward Racine Kane bounced back with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block to lead UST to a 1-1 record.
“Yung mindset lang talaga yung nag-iba. I just told them we have to enjoy the game. Nakita naman namin na nage-enjoy sila kanina kaya medyo loose na sila naglaro,” said UST head coach Manu Iñigo.
Kirk Canete tallied 15 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while Gilas Youth member Wacky Ludovice added 10 points for the Tiger Cubs.
Bonn Daja led DLSZ with 21 points, while Kieffer Alas recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
For UE, Ivorian center Jean Bana tallied 16 points, eight rebounds, and two steals, while Topeng Lagat added 14 points and four rebounds.
Ethan Aguas and Edry Alejandro chipped in 10 and six points, respectively, with Alejandro grabbing eight boards.
Despite their efforts, the Junior Archers and the Junior Warriors fell to 1-1.
Ateneo and UPIS remain winless at 0-2.
Ateneo’s Chris Urbina tallied 24 points and eight assists, while Jaime Gomez de Liaño paced UPIS with 11 points and nine rebounds in their defeat.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the girls’ division, NUNS wasted no time establishing its dominance, delivering a historic 109-15 victory over Ateneo.
The Lady Bullpups’ 94-point victory set a new UAAP girls basketball record for the largest winning margin, surpassing the previous mark of 85 points set by University of Santo Tomas in a 112-27 win over Ateneo during Season 82 on January 25, 2020.
“Natutuwa kami sa panalo dahil first-ever UAAP game namin ito,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Camilla Escoto. “Pero yung sa margin, hindi na kasi namin tinitignan yung score. Gusto lang namin magperform and marepresent nang maayos yung school on a big stage.”
The Lady Bullpups dominated the Blue Eagles from start to finish, opening with a 40-2 first quarter and extending their lead to 66-8 by halftime while forcing 40 turnovers.
NUNS continued its relentless play in the second half, holding Ateneo scoreless in the third quarter and finishing with a 24-0 run to lead 90-8 entering the final period.
Ateneo managed only three second-half baskets, while NUNS overwhelmed them in the paint (94-4) and on defense, forcing 58 turnovers and collecting 38 steals.
Aubrey Laparasan led NUNS with 20 points, five assists, and five rebounds, while Zaydhen Rosano matched her output with 20 points, adding eight steals, three rebounds, and three assists.
Haikka Aycardo and Ashlyn Abong each scored 12 points, combining for 14 rebounds and six steals. Rebekkah Pascua and Ashley Trinidad chipped in 10 points apiece in a well-rounded team effort.
Cesca Pangilinan paced Ateneo with six points—all in the first half—along with five rebounds and the game’s only block.
The Scores:
First Game
NUNS (91) – Akowe 21, Napa 13, Alfanta 11, Usop 11, Palanca 8, Locsin 6, Cartel 6, Matias 5, Natinga 3, Lucido 3, Figueroa 2, Casala 2, Solomon 0, Nepacena 0, Bouzina 0.
DLSZ (69) – Daja 21, Alas 17, Mben 10, Favis 9, Arejola 5, Espinosa 2, Reguera 2, Atienza 2, Dabao 1, Borrero 0, Lopez 0, Gubat 0, Alpapara 0, Tailan 0.
Quarterscores: 20-13, 50-30, 68-44, 91-69.
Second Game
AdU (75) – Perez 19, Medina 17, Esperanza 15, De Jesus 12, Sajili 5, Umali 5, Tumaneng 2, Abayon 0, Murillo 0, Peñafiel 0, Matilliano 0.
UE (66) – Bana 16, Lagat 14, Aguas 10, Alejandro 6, Timbol 6, Diaz 5, Lorenzo 3, Bual 2, Almanza 2, Sabroso 2, Roquid 0, Dahino 0, Chua 0.
Quarterscores: 14-16, 28-32, 54-47, 75-66.
Third Game
FEU-D (82) – Burgos 15, Pascual 14, Cabonilas 12, Salangsang 9, Hall 6, Gemao 6, Esperanza 6, De Guzman 4, Godoy 2, Raneses 2, Maierhofer 2, Gutierrez 2, Cagurungan 2, Castillejos 9, Dagcutan 0, Santos 0.
Ateneo (72) – Urbina 24, Espinas 18, Lacsamana 8, Gatmaitan 6, Asistio 5, Leal 4, Lagdamen 3, Kallos 2, Delo Santos 2, Reyes 0, Ymasa 0, Kaw 0, Tan 0.
Quarterscores: 21-18, 43-36, 56-48, 82-72.
Fourth Game
UST (98) – Kane 19, Cañete 15, Ludovice 10, Solon 8, Manding 8, Catalan 8, Buenaflor 6, Cinco 6, Acido 6, Esteban 6, Bucsit 3, Vidanes 2, Bandingan 2, Bohol 0, Javier 0.
UPIS (45) – Gomez de Liaño 11, Melicor 10, Hallare 7, Egea 6, Pascual 5, Tubongbanua 2, Hernandez 2, Poquiz 2, Coronel 0, Uvero 0, Mariano 0, Gepitan 0, Rosete 0, Addatu 0, Cobico 0.
Quarterscores: 33-5, 55-15, 80-22, 98-45.
Fifth Game
NUNS (109) – Lapasaran 20, Rosano 20, Aycardo 12, Abong 12, Pascua 10, Trinidad 10, Katigbak 8, Sales 6, Avila 6, Bretania 3, Badajos 2.
Ateneo (15) – Pangilinan 6, Templo 5, Burdeos 2, Lo 2, Exconde 0, Linaza 0, Gozum 0, Molina 0, Bacayo 0, Bernardo 0, Doque 0, Cacanindin 0, Lee 0.
Quarterscores: 40-2, 66-8, 90-8, 109-15.
