National University Nazareth School limited De La Salle Zobel to just 15 second-half points en route to a hard-fought 60-50 victory, keeping its perfect start intact with a 2-0 record in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Wednesday morning at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
Trailing 22-35 at halftime, the Bullpups leaned on their defensive identity in the second half, holding the Junior Archers to a mere 5-of-28 shooting and 15 points. The win ensured NUNS remained atop the eight-team field.
DLSZ, meanwhile, caught fire early in the first half, shooting efficiently at 15-of-32 from the field (46.9-percent), but cooled off in the latter stages, finishing the game at 20-of-60 overall.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other hand, Adamson University relied on a strong second-half performance to overcome the University of the Philippines Integrated School, 71-47, securing its first triumph of the season.
“Yung first half, hindi kami yung naglaro nung first half ‘eh. Buti na lang mayroong halftime, kaya meron kaming time to redeem ourselves nung halftime. Inaddress lang namin sa mga bata na kailangan maglaro sila from first quarter up to fourth quarter, kung sino mananalo this game,” NUNS head coach Kevin de Castro said.
“This second half, ito yung team na hinahanap talaga namin sa kanila — yung defensive team. Credit sa mga nagtrabaho nung second half, pero we are not really satisfied kasi alam namin na malayo pa,” he added.
After Nigerian center Yusuf Mikailu fouled out with 6:03 remaining, the Bullpups quickly capitalized. Shaun Lucido hit a step-through layup, while Malian center Moussa Diakite and Mot Matias scored back-to-back inside buckets to push NUNS ahead 54-48 with 3:54 left.
A floater by Maco Dabao kept DLSZ within reach at 54-50, but Kurl Figueroa — brother of Season 88 Elite Team member Jake Figueroa — sank a free throw and converted an alley-oop, followed by a dagger three from Lucido to seal the win.
Lucido led NUNS with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Figueroa added 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, six rebounds, two steals, and one block.
Matias contributed eight points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals, and Cartel chipped in five points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the other game, the Baby Falcons turned a 27-30 halftime deficit into a dominant 24-7 third-quarter run, powered by Mac Jenodia, Jarl Artango, and Kieff Iledan, taking a 51-37 lead heading into the final period.
Adamson maintained control in the fourth quarter, with consecutive inside baskets from Jenodia and Artango, plus two free throws by Kevin Frogoso, stretching the lead to 63-42 with 4:40 remaining.
UPIS was limited to just 18-of-53 shooting for the game after hitting 12-of-30 in the first half, while the Baby Falcons finished 28-of-82 from the field.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“I just challenged them [after the halftime]. I told them, I am rooting for UP to win, kaya prove me wrong. Maybe it worked, pero sabi ko nga, hindi kailangan dumating sa ganon. Kailangan, from the very beginning, kung ano yung kailangan pagtrabahuan, pagtrabahuan,” Adamson head coach Mike Fermin said.
Jenodia led Adamson with 17 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and two assists, while Artango added 15 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Iledan nearly posted a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds plus four assists.
Fran Flores contributed seven points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
For DLSZ, Dabao led the Junior Archers with 16 points on 7-of-21 shooting, six rebounds, and two assists, while Nino Ferrer added eight points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Bruce Tubongbanua finished with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting, 10 rebounds, and three assists after scoring 14 in the first half.
Jhustin Hallare continued to struggle from the field, finishing with 10 points on 2-of-13 shooting, eight turnovers, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The Scores:
First Game:
NUNS (60) – Lucido 17, Figueroa 15, Matias 8, Cartel 5, Natinga 5, Diakite 4, Juan 2, Celiz 2, Bouzina 2, Cabantog 0, Mann 0.
DLSZ (50) – Dabao 16, Ferrer 8, Alpapara 7, Favis 5, Arejola 4, Mikailu 4, Llamas 2, Luna 2, Borrero 2, Atienza 0.
Quarterscores: 11-16, 22-35, 40-44, 60-50.
Second Game:
AdU (71) – Jenodia 17, Artango 15, Iledan 8, Flores 7, Frogoso 5, Gomez 5, Saygo 5, Fongtong 4, Bautista 3, Elman 2, Matillano 0, Babad 0, Alcartado 0, Garcia 0, Gonzales 0, Sailog 0.
UPIS (47) – Tubongbanua 17, Hallare 10, Pioquiz 6, M. Rosete 5, Lugatiman 5, Pascual 3, J. Rosete 2, Addatu 0, Manguerra 0, Hernandez 0, Cobico 0, Labao 0.
Quarterscores: 15-8, 27-30, 51-37, 71-47.
