National University Nazareth School asserted its dominance over defending champion University of Santo Tomas, 92-72, to stay in a share of second place in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Unlike their thrilling 78-74 first-round win over the Tiger Cubs last February 1, the Bullpups secured their fifth consecutive victory as the trio of Shaun Lucido, Malian center Moussa Diakite, and Kurl Figueroa took control midway through the contest.
In the later game, De La Salle Zobel ended a three-game skid with a wire-to-wire 83-47 triumph over the winless University of the Philippines Integrated School.
With these wins, NUNS and Ateneo de Manila University remain tied for second place with identical 7-2 records, while DLSZ improved to a tie for fourth with Adamson University at 4-5.
“Coming into this game, yung gusto ko ma-achieve talaga ay yung first three games nga namin dito sa second round, tinatawag ko nga itong ‘Dangerous Three’ dahil kumbaga Ateneo, FEU, tapos yung UST. Sabi ko sa kanila, malagpasan natin itong first three games, siguro, magiging maganda yung position namin,” Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro said.
“Kumbaga, nakukuha na namin yung bearings namin this season so sana lang magtuloy-tuloy ito,” he added.
After a triple by Wacky Ludovice trimmed the deficit to 53-42 in the third quarter, NUNS responded with a crucial 9-2 run, capped by consecutive layups from Figueroa and Ronnie Juan and a Chad Cartel three-pointer, putting UST in an 18-point hole, 62-44.
The Tiger Cubs stayed within striking distance as free throws from Leo Lapastora and JC Canapi, along with a Sean Bohol three-pointer, cut the gap to 13 points, 69-56.
However, NUNS sealed the game in the fourth quarter with consecutive inside hits from Sofiane Bouzina, Lucido, Cartel, and Diakite, completing an 11-1 run that built an 80-57 lead with 6:10 remaining.
Lucido finished with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting, along with six assists and two rebounds, while Figueroa contributed an efficient 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, five rebounds, and one block.
Diakite dominated the boards with a double-double of 12 points and 19 rebounds, adding three blocks and one assist, while Mot Matias posted nine points, eight assists, four rebounds, and one steal. Miekho Natinga and Rhon-j Matias chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UST, Ludovice led with 17 points on five triples, along with two assists and one rebound, while John Lee Melano added 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting, four rebounds, and one steal.
In the later game, the Junior Archers pulled away with a commanding third quarter, scoring 29 points while limiting the Fighting Maroons to just five. This turned a 40-27 halftime lead into a 69-37 advantage.
DLSZ maintained control in the fourth quarter as consecutive inside hits by Mark Borrero, Nino Ferrer, and Deron Llamas preserved a 77-44 lead with 4:22 remaining, securing their fourth win in nine outings.
With the wire-to-wire victory, Junior Archers head coach Gian Nazario expressed pride in how DLSZ bounced back from three consecutive losses—two lopsided defeats to the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws and a come-from-behind loss to the University of the East Junior Warriors.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Those three losses, we did not really dwell on it a lot, kasi we know na those games only made us better… Yung mga little things lang na kailangan namin i-address, and it showed today. There were some parts today na I think na-address namin yung lapses na ‘yon,” Nazario said.
“Just getting this win and getting over that three-game losing streak, I am just happy with where we are at right now,” he added.
Ferrer led four Junior Archers in double digits with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, six rebounds, one assist, and one steal, while Champ Arejola contributed 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, seven assists, and two steals.
Lead guard Maco Dabao also had 11 points, five rebounds, two steals, and one assist, while Nigerian center Yusuf Mikailu finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, and one block.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For the Fighting Maroons, Bruce Tubongbanua scored 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting, adding three rebounds and three assists, while Jhustin Hallare also posted 10 points alongside six rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Zandro Lugatiman ended with 10 points, two assists, and one rebound.
The Scores:
Third Game:
NUNS (92) – Lucido 16, Figueroa 13, Diakite 12, M. Matias 9, Natinga 9, R. Matias 8, Cartel 8, Bouzina 5, Tulabut 5, Juan 3, Cabantog 2, Celiz 2, Mann 0, Manding 0, Sison 0, Timbang 0.
UST (72) – Ludovice 17, Melano 14, Esteban 8, Canapi 5, Pulongbarit 4, Cruz 4, Lapastora 4, Ajani 3, Bathan 3, Bohol 3, Bandigan 3, Canete 2, Vidanes 2, Sta. Maria 0.
Quarterscores: 22-16, 43-32, 72-56, 92-72.
Fourth Game:
DLSZ (83) – Ferrer 12, Arejola 11, Dabao 11, Mikailu 10, Borrero 9, Favis 8, Alpapara 8, Llamasa 4, Atienza 4, Tan 4, Dimayuga 2, Reyes 0, Trillo 0, Alpapara 0.
UPIS (47) – Tubongbanua 10, Hallare 10, Lugatiman 10, Poquiz 8, Labao 6, Addatu 2, M. Rosete 1, Manguerra 0, Hernandez 0, Cobico 0, J. Rosete 0.
Quarterscores: 23-8, 40-27, 69-37, 83-47.
