National University Nazareth School extended its unbeaten run to five games after dismantling the struggling University of the Philippines Integrated School, 90-34, in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
However, the highlight of the day belonged to Jheremy Godoy, who drained a buzzer-beating game-winner to lift Far Eastern University-Diliman to a thrilling 97-95 double-overtime victory over University of the East.
Reigning MVP Collins Akowe spearheaded the Bullpups’ dominance, registering his fifth double-double in as many games with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and three assists. Mac Alfanta provided solid support, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting, along with two rebounds, two steals, and one assist in their commanding 56-point win.
The Akowe-Alfanta duo has been instrumental in NUNS’ perfect run, propelling the Bullpups to a flawless 6-0 record.
“Sabi ko sa kanila, we don’t have to be complacent. Ayaw namin mag-relax kahit hindi pa tapos yung first round. We have to make a statement kasi ang next game namin is UE, one of the contenders, then last game is yung defending champions. Gusto lang namin magkaroon ng magandang springboard,” said Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro.
Six-foot-six center Migs Palanca added 13 points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block, while Kurl Figueroa contributed 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one assist.
Meanwhile, Tom Pillado made his Season 87 debut after serving a four-game suspension, finishing with four assists and three rebounds.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Many expected Gilas Youth standout Cabs Cabonilas to take the final shot for the Baby Tams in double overtime, but instead, he found 17-year-old guard Godoy wide open in the left corner for the game-winning jumper.
Godoy finished with eight points, six assists, five rebounds, and one steal in his clutch performance.
The Baby Tamaraws, who led by as many as 20 points in regulation, saw their advantage dwindle after UE mounted a furious 23-10 fourth-quarter rally to force overtime.
Despite the challenge, FEU-D held its ground and avoided an upset, staying in second place with a 3-1 record.
“‘Yon gusto ko sa mga batang ito, maganda fighting spirit nila. Kahit nahabol sila, nandoon pa rin yung depensa nila, yung pressure nila. Hindi sila naggive up. Sabi ko nga, hindi tayo mananalo kung babagsak agad kayo sa pressure,” said Baby Tams assistant coach Bert Flores, who stepped in for head coach Denok Miranda.
FEU-D nearly faltered in the second overtime when Louie Bual and Ethan Aguas propelled UE to a 92-88 lead.
However, Marc Burgos’ layup and Liam Salangsang’s free throws tied the game at 92-all with 1:26 left.
Cabonilas briefly restored FEU-D’s advantage at 95-92, but Nicholash Lorenzo’s clutch three-pointer evened the score with 7.6 seconds remaining—setting the stage for Godoy’s buzzer-beater.
Cabonilas recorded a triple-double (23 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists), while Burgos (19 points, 10 rebounds), Salangsang (16 points, four rebounds, three assists), and Mico Pascual (15 points, 11 rebounds, three assists) also contributed significantly.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Joining FEU-D in second place was University of Santo Tomas, which secured its fourth consecutive win with an 82-67 victory over De La Salle Zobel.
“I’m happy for the boys na naachieve namin ‘yan, pero it doesn’t mean anything kung hindi kami mag-champion. Sabi ko nga, one game at a time, kung ano ‘man yung nagagawa nilang records, we don’t care about that. All we care about is winning every game,” said Tiger Cubs head coach Manu Iñigo.
Racine Kane continued his strong form, posting his fourth straight double-double with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Wacky Ludovice added 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, along with three rebounds and three assists. Team captain Koji Buenaflor contributed 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Kirk Cañete chipped in nine points, five assists, and one steal.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the opening game, Mark Esperanza propelled defending champion Adamson University to a hard-fought 56-52 win over Ateneo de Manila University, snapping a two-game losing skid.
Esperanza, a 5-foot-11 Gilas Youth guard, flirted with a triple-double, tallying 25 points on 10-of-21 shooting, 14 rebounds, nine assists (all in the first half), and five steals.
The victory halted Adamson’s losing streak—following defeats to UST and DLSZ—and improved their record to 2-3, tying UE for sixth place.
“It’s a hard-earned victory for us. Hats off din sa Ateneo, they played well. But in the end, breaks of the game na lang nangyari ‘eh. Nakapag-capitalize kami doon [and] we were able to score. At least, na-arrest namin yung skid namin at sana dire-diretso na,” said Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin.
Gabe de Jesus chipped in 10 points, while Javi Artango recorded six points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
La Salle standout Kieffer Alas was limited to 16 points (10 coming from free throws) on 3-of-13 shooting but contributed six rebounds, five assists, and one block. Maco Dabao struggled as well, managing 15 points on 6-of-19 shooting, along with four assists, three rebounds, one steal, and one block as the Junior Archers dropped to solo fourth.
Edry Alejandro led UE with 24 points, 21 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. Lance Sabroso contributed 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one block, while Xedric Diaz also had 14 points, six rebounds, three steals, and one assist. Ethan Aguas chipped in 11 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one block.
Both Ateneo and UPIS remained winless at 0-5, staying at the bottom of the eight-team standings.
Chris Urbina, despite a tough shooting night (3-of-11), managed 11 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals. Jay Leal posted a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, along with one assist, one steal, and one block for the Blue Eagles.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the girls’ division, UST continued to assert its dominance, delivering a commanding 117-29 rout of Ateneo to join NUNS at the top of the standings ahead of their Thursday showdown.
“What we want to do is—naguumpisa pa lang ang Ateneo ‘eh—we want them to have that feel of playing in the UAAP, although alam naman natin na nagsisimula pa lang sila. We want them to enjoy the game itself just like we do,” said Junior Growling Tigresses head coach Arensio Dysangco.
With top scorer Rhiane Perez sidelined due to a minor ankle injury, Grachelle Boteros stepped up with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Barby Dajao dominated with 18 points, 17 rebounds, five steals, and four assists.
Jannah Wencensalo contributed a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, adding five steals and two assists. Giorgina Anonuevo chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one assist, while Noelle Arciaga also posted 11 points, eight rebounds, and one assist.
Ateneo’s Tyler Templo led in the loss with 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Matia Molina added nine points, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Winless squads Ateneo and DLSZ face off next Sunday.
The Scores:
First Game (Boys):
AdU (56) – Esperanza 25, De Jesus 10, Artango 6, Perez 6, Medina 5, Penafiel 3, Decatoria 1, Murillo 0, Umali 0, Tumaneng 0, Jenodia 0, Sajili 0.
Ateneo (52) – Urbina 11, Leal 11, Delos Santos 10, Gatmaitan 8, Espinas 3, Tan 3, Asistio 3, Aquino 2, Ymasa 1, Lagdamen 0, Reyes 0, Lacsamana 0, Kallos 0.
Quarterscores: 14-17, 36-26, 48-42, 56-52.
Second Game (Boys):
NUNS (90) – Akowe 21, Palanca 13, Alfanta 12, Figueroa 11, Locsin 6, Lucido 6, Usop 5, Natinga 5, Nepacena 4, Cartel 3, Matias 2, Bouzina 2, Pillado 0, Napa 0, Casala 0.
UPIS (34) – Tubongbanua 9, Melicor 9, De Liano 4, Hallare 3, Coronel 3, Egea 2, Poquiz 2, Gepitan 2, Uvero 0, Cobico 0, Mariano 0, Rosete 0, Hernandez 0, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 20-7, 46-14, 65-26, 90-34.
Third Game (Boys):
FEU-D (97) – Cabonilas 23, Burgos 19, Salangsang 16, Pascual 15, Godoy 8, Raneses 8, Gemao 6, Castillejos 2, De Guzman 0, Hall 0, Maierhofer 0.
UE (95) – Alejandro 24, Sabroso 14, Diaz 14, Aguas 11, Bual 7, Lorenzo 6, Chua 4, Bana 4, Almanza 3, Lagat 3, Timbol 3, Cuevas 2.
Quarterscores: 18-11, 43-29, 65-52, 75-75, 85-85, 97-95.
Fourth Game (Boys):
UST (82) – Kane 16, Ludovice 15, Buenaflor 12, Canete 9, Solon 6, Acido 4, Bucsit 4, Esteban 4, Manding 4, Catalan 4, Bohol 2, Javier 2, Vidanes 0, Cinco 0, Bandingan 0.
DLSZ (67) – Alas 16, Dabao 15, Mben 11, Daja 7, Espinosa 7, Espinosa 7, Arejola 4, Atienza 4, Alpapara 3, Borrero 0, Favis 0, Tailan 0, Gubat 0.
Quarterscores: 27-11, 44-30, 65-46, 82-67.
Fifth Game (Girls):
UST (117) – Boteros 19, Dajao 18, Wencenslao 15, Anonuevo 11, Arciaga 11, Floreindo 7, Petalcorin 6, Pinuela 6, Banate 6, Tambawan 6, Onate 5, Insoy 4, Villarin 2, Abrantes 1.
Ateneo (29) – Templo 10, Molina 9, Exconde 6, Bernardo 2, Lo 2, Doque 0, Pangilinan 0, Bacayo 0, Burdeos 0, Linaza 0, Gozum 0, Cacanindin 0, Lee 0.
Quarterscores: 45-1, 71-6, 102-16, 117-29.
