National University Nazareth School extended its dominant run in the UAAP Season 87 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, securing its 13th consecutive win with a commanding 90-72 victory over the struggling University of the Philippines Integrated School, Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
With the win, the Bullpups move to the brink of an outright Finals berth. However, standing in their way is second-seeded University of Santo Tomas, which they will face on Thursday, March 6, at the same venue.
A victory would give NUNS its first elimination-round sweep since Season 82 in 2019.
“Ito na yung final stretch ng season namin. Tough game sa Thursday against UST, so doon namin magga-gauge talaga kung nasaan na kami. Kung makuha namin, thankful kami, pero kung hindi naman, at least there’s something to learn. ‘Yon ang sabi ko sa kanila, every game and every practice we learn to get better,” said NUNS head coach Kevin de Castro.
The Bullpups wasted no time asserting their dominance, opening the game with a blistering 28-10 first-quarter performance. By halftime, they had buried the Fighting Maroons in a deep 22-point hole, 48-26.
NUNS continued to widen the gap, building a commanding 73-42 lead by the end of the third quarter. While UPIS exploded for 30 points in the final frame, the early cushion proved insurmountable.
Leading the charge was Best Foreign Student-Athlete frontrunner Collins Akowe, who posted his 13th consecutive double-double with 19 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks.
The Bullpups dominated the rebounding battle, grabbing 68 boards compared to UPIS’ 32.
Kurl Figueroa contributed 10 points, 14 rebounds, and one steal, while Iver Napa also scored 10 points with two steals and two rebounds. Migs Palanca added seven points, nine rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal.
UPIS, which has endured three straight 1-13 seasons (Seasons 82, 85, and 86), now faces the grim possibility of a 0-14 finish for the first time in 15 years. Their final chance to avoid a winless campaign comes against Ateneo.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite the loss, Season 87 16-and-under Mythical Five member Jhustin Hallare shined for UPIS. He finished with 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc, along with seven rebounds and one assist.
Rocco Melicor added 16 points, five assists, and four rebounds.
Returning to action, Jaime Gomez de Liaño delivered 14 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and three assists. Meanwhile, Season 86 Rookie of the Year Nathan Egea chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the earlier game, Kieffer Alas delivered a career-best performance, dropping 37 points as De La Salle Zobel snapped its slump with an 80-73 win over archrival Ateneo de Manila University.
Alas, frustrated after losing seven of their last eight games, took matters into his own hands.
He erupted for 37 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals — setting the highest individual scoring mark of Season 87. His performance surpassed the 32-point outing of MVP frontrunner Cabs Cabonilas in Far Eastern University-Diliman’s 66-62 win over the University of the East Junior Warriors earlier in the day.
The victory propelled DLSZ to a 5-8 record, tying UE for fifth place. The Junior Archers will close their campaign against FEU-D on Thursday.
“After our loss against UE, which closed our doors to the Final Four, we just said that we want to take these next two games to finish strong… After that rough stretch, plus a rivalry game against Ateneo, may kasabihan nga na matalo na sa lahat, huwag lang sa Ateneo. We kind of stuck that to heart,” said Junior Archers head coach Boris Aldeguer.
DLSZ held a slim 57-55 lead heading into the fourth quarter but took control with a 17-5 run, sparked by the quartet of Champ Arejola, Melvin Tailan, Ken Atienza, and Alas. The surge built a comfortable 74-60 lead with 4:37 remaining.
Alas capped the run in style, scoring eight straight points off an and-one layup, a fadeaway jumper, and a three-pointer.
That cushion proved crucial as the Junior Archers held off a late 13-6 rally from the Blue Eagles to secure the win.
Bonn Daja added 12 points and six rebounds for DLSZ, while co-captain Maco Dabao finished with nine points, four rebounds, two assists, and one block.
On the other hand, Ateneo’s struggles continued as they fell to 2-10, remaining in seventh place.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Chris Urbina led the Blue Eagles with 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
Jay-m Leal added 16 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and one steal, while Alfonso Tan contributed 13 points, four rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
Ziv Espinas chipped in eight points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one block.
The Scores:
Fourth Game (Boys)
DLSZ (80) – Alas 37, Daja 12, Dabao 9, Arejola 6, Espinosa 4, Lopez 3, Favis 3, Tailan 2, Atienza 2, Borrero 2, Gubat 0, Mben 0, Reguera 0.
Ateneo (73) – Urbina 18, Leal 16, Tan 13, Espinas 8, Lagdamen 5, Santos 5, Ymasa 5, Silvestre 2, Lacsamana 1, Reyes 0, Gatmaitan 0.
Quarterscores: 24-21, 39-42, 57-55, 80-73.
Fifth Game (Boys)
NUNS (90) – Akowe 19, Figueroa 10, Napa 10, Nepacena 7, Palanca 7, Locsin 6, Usop 6, Alfanta 6, Natinga 6, Lucido 5, Cartel 3, Solomon 3, Matias 2, Casala 0, Pillado 0, Bouzina 0.
UPIS (72) – Hallare 22, Melicor 16, Gomez de Liano 14, Egea 11, Tubongbanua 5, Uvero 2, Pascual 2, Hernandez 0, Cobico 0, Addatu 0, Coronel 0, Poquiz 0.
Quarterscores: 28-10, 48-26, 73-42, 90-72.
