National University Nazareth School moved one win away from sweeping the elimination round of the UAAP Season 88 High School Girls’ Basketball Tournament after a commanding 107-49 rout of also-ran Ateneo de Manila University, Wednesday morning at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
The Finals-bound Lady Bullpups showed no signs of slowing down, leaning on Hasly Mallari, Aubrey Lapasaran, and Zaydhen Rosano to secure their fifth straight victory in as many games, winning by an average margin of 53.2 points.
The unbeaten run gives NUNS significant momentum heading into its clash with defending champion UST Growling Tigresses — a preview of their best-of-three championship showdown — to close the elimination round on Sunday, March 8.
In their first-round meeting that burst UST’s bubble, NUNS prevailed, 74-62, last February 1 at the Adamson Gym in Manila.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Ngayon, natutunan namin yung composure kasi sanay kami na naratratan. Yung ginawa sa amin at yung lessons learned against UST, ‘yon yung inaaral namin ngayon,” said Lady Bullpups head coach Ai Lebornio.
“Malaking bagay itong last game na ito to boost the confidence of the players and myself. Para pagpasok ng finals, doon natin makikita kung kaya nila i-sustain against UST yung linalaro nila,” she added.
Despite a 17-day layoff, NUNS picked up right where it left off. The team erupted for a dominant 37-9 first quarter before leaning on late baskets from Audrey Biongcog, Trishma Arciaga, Mallari, and Ruiza Olmos in the second period to bury Ateneo in a 70-26 halftime deficit.
The blistering start proved too much to overcome. Back-to-back layups by Lapasaran and Rosano, a triple from Queenie Cordero, and two free throws from Zane Singson stretched the lead to 55 points, 89-34, entering the fourth quarter.
NUNS fired on all cylinders, shooting an efficient 45-of-86 from the field while dominating the glass with 73 rebounds and dishing out 39 assists. It also limited Ateneo to just 21-of-79 shooting, 27 rebounds, and nine assists.
Mallari powered the Lady Bullpups with 14 points — 13 of which came in the first half — along with four rebounds and two assists. Rosano posted a dominant double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds, on top of five assists and one steal.
Lapasaran added 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Zia Onate delivered a perfect shooting performance with 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting. He also had six rebounds and five assists.
Biongcog chipped in 10 points, four rebounds, and one assist. Then Inday Sales rounded out NUNS’ balanced attack with nine points, three assists, and one steal.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other hand, Cheska Gozum led the Blue Eagles — who remained winless through five games — with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, along with three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
Matia Molina contributed 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal, while Tyler Templo finished with 10 points and four rebounds.
Ateneo will try to close its Season 88 campaign on a high note when it faces De La Salle Zobel in a rivalry matchup on Sunday, March 1, at the same venue.
The Scores:
NUNS (107) – Mallari 14, Rosano 12, Lapasaran 12, Onate 10, Biongcog 10, Sales 9, Olmos 8, Badajos 7, Singson 7, Cordero 6, Arciaga 4, Agad 4, Katigbak 4.
Ateneo (49) – Gozum 13, Molina 11, Templo 10, Ebao 7, Ablang 4, Mariano 2, Chuidian 2, Palmiery 0, Vejerano 0, Madamba 0, Doque 0, Trillo 0, Dalanon 0.
Quarterscores: 37-9, 70-26, 89-34, 107-49.
