National University–Nazareth School completed a perfect run in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament with an 82-72 Game 2 triumph over Far Eastern University-Diliman on Wednesday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Bullpups swept all 16 games this season to secure the program’s first 16-and-under basketball championship. NUNS had previously won the inaugural tournament held in Season 86 in 2024 as a demonstration event.
Eager to end their 16-and-under careers with the Bullpups as champions, Malian center Moussa Diakite, Jaypee Yanga, and David Sabareza delivered stellar performances to withstand the Baby Tamaraws’ fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Masarap talaga ito kasi yung sacrifice namin. Naiwan ako for China, for Korea, para i-prepare lang itong 16-and-under. Okay naman yung naging resulta. Kahit lagi na nila ako iwan, basta mag-champion lang kami,” NUNS head coach Leo Pujante said.
“Next season will be a challenge talaga para sa amin dahil wala na si Moussa, pero ita-try pa rin namin i-defend yung crown. Hindi namin papabayaan agawin sa amin,” he added.
Sabareza capped his UAAP 16U career in style, earning Finals MVP honors after averaging 23.5 points, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals across the two-game championship series.
“Siguro for me, yung pagiging [Finals] MVP, hindi lang para sa akin kasi hindi lang naman ako yung nagtrabaho sa court. Lahat kami nagtrabaho para makuha itong championship and nagtulungan kami sa court,” the 6-foot-1 guard from Antipolo, Rizal, said.
Diakite finished with 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting, adding 17 rebounds, five blocks, four assists, and three steals, while Yanga contributed 20 points, six rebounds, and one steal.
Sabareza also recorded 17 points, six assists, three rebounds, and three steals, with Dean Tria adding 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
The Bullpups, who had won the opener, 79-49, maintained an 18-point, 63-45 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Baby Tamaraws, however, refused to fold, mounting a 14-3 run — capped by Danjo Desiderio charities and a Dwyne Enriquez midrange jumper — to cut the lead to 66-59 with 5:42 left.
NUNS, however, displayed championship poise when it mattered most, countering with a four-point play by Tria and two free throws by Mark Arzola to complete a pivotal 8-2 run and restore a 13-point, 74-61 advantage with 4:15 remaining.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
FEU-D mounted a final push as a triple by Andrei Chavez and two Dwayne Cañete free throws trimmed the lead to 80-72 with 23 seconds left, but Tria sealed NU’s perfect season with perfect free throws to finalize the score.
The Baby Tamaraws improved to a runner-up finish after settling for bronze last year but were unable to solve the Bullpups, losing all four encounters this season.
Prince Cariño overcame an early injury scare to finish with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and two assists, while Dwyne Enriquez struggled offensively, scoring eight points on 3-of-18 shooting, but added four rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
Cañete contributed 10 points, three assists, three steals, and one rebound, while Chavez chipped in nine points, nine rebounds, and one steal in the losing effort.
The Scores:
NUNS (82) – Diakite 21, Yanga 20, Sabareza 17, Tria 14, Arzola 8, Khobuntin 2, Manalo 0, Gatumbato 0, Peña 0, Lalong-Isip 0.
FEU-D (72) – Cariño 19, Cañete 10, Chavez 9, Enriquez 8, Mampao 7, Mojica 6, Pineda 5, Daa 4, Desiderio 4, Barlan 0.
Quarterscores: 16-21, 44-37, 61-45, 82-72.
