National University Nazareth School is on the verge of a first-round sweep after a dominant 77-56 victory over De La Salle Zobel in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday morning at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Sophomore guard David Sabareza continued his impressive run, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the second half, along with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. The redemption-seeking Bullpups—who finished fourth in Season 87—remain atop the eight-team field with an unblemished 6-0 record heading into their final first-round outing.
Standing in NUNS’ way of a first-round sweep is Ateneo de Manila University, a team still reeling from a narrow defeat to Season 87 runner-up University of Santo Tomas, on Saturday, October 18, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Kung ano yung preparation namin every game, ganon pa rin. Mapa-mahina or mapalakas, pare-pareho lang naman kasi if you take for granted yung every team, hindi lang yung mga bata ang bababa ang laro, pero kami rin bababa rin ang level of coaching. Kailangan yung intensity and competitiveness inside the practice dapat nandoon pa rin,” Bullpups head coach Leo Pujante said.
Dean Tria and Malian center Moussa Diakite sparked a strong 25-12 opening period, then carried the momentum into the second quarter to give NUNS a comfortable 16-point, 40-24 lead at halftime.
That strong start proved crucial as the Bullpups weathered the Junior Archers’ furious 15-3 third-quarter rally—powered by Jullian Pangan, Ice Purugganan, Jose Asis, and John Mindanao—which cut the deficit to 51-41.
NUNS, however, quickly regained control, unleashing a pivotal 17-2 run that extended into the fourth quarter.
The surge, highlighted by an eight-point spurt from Sabareza and a layup and three-pointer from Mark Arzola on consecutive possessions, gave the Bullpups a commanding 68-43 lead with 5:04 remaining.
Diakite finished with a double-double of 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 10 rebounds, along with one steal and one block.
Mark Arzola added 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, seven assists, six rebounds, and two steals.
Dean Tria contributed nine points, two assists, and two steals, while Loin Lalong-Isip added eight points and one rebound in 11 minutes and 48 seconds of action.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For DLSZ (0-5), the Purugganan twins led the way in the losing effort, with Enzo posting 14 points, four assists, and two rebounds, and Ice adding 11 points, six assists, two rebounds, and two steals.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University-Diliman held University of the Philippines Integrated School to just 15 first-half points before pulling off a commanding 86-37 victory.
After their loss to the Bullpups, the Baby Tamaraws rediscovered their rhythm, securing their third consecutive win and fourth overall in five games to hold solo second place.
“Hindi ko kasi kontrolado yung utak at isip ng mga bata na ‘yan, kaya lagi ko sinasabi sa kanila na dapat lagi kayo gutom sa basketball. Hindi kayo pwede mabusog kahit panalo kayo ng malaking margin or kung natalo ‘man or nanalo ‘man, kailangan palagi kami gutom,” FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia said.
Riding a dominant 25-4 opening-period performance, the Baby Tamaraws did not let up. Gilas Pilipinas Boys’ member Prince Cariño, along with Dwyne Enriquez and Mark Isip, led the charge to put the Fighting Maroons in a 41-15 hole by halftime.
UPIS had little chance to recover, as four consecutive inside scores by Nike Manaloto, Enriquez, and Cariño in the third quarter extended FEU-D’s lead to a decisive 66-25.
Cariño finished with 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 16 rebounds, and one block, while Enriquez contributed 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block.
Cañete added 10 points, three steals, and two rebounds, while Andrei Chavez chipped in six points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UPIS, Yojan Manguerra led the fight with 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while John Addatu had 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
The Scores
First Game
NUNS (77) – Sabareza 16, Arzola 11, Diakite 11, Tria 9, Lalong-Isip 8, Khobuntin 6, Liwanag 6, Manalo 2, Yanga 2, Geron 2, Romero 2, Sinda 2, Enriquez 0, Peña 0, Gatumbato 0, Santiago 0.
DLSZ (56) – E. Purugganan 14, I. Purugganan 11, Mindanao 10, Pangan 8, Dizon 6, Rivera 4, Asis 3, Mercado 0, Sy 0, Reyes 0, De Lara 0, Dumana 0, Meloto 0.
Quarterscores: 25-12, 40-24, 55-41, 77-56
Second Game
FEU-D (86) – Cariño 20, Enriquez 15, Cañete 10, Chavez 6, Isip 5, Desiderio 5, Maghinay 5, Madrigal 4, Manaloto 4, Mojica 3, Daa 3, Mampao 2, Pineda 2, Barlan 2, Cruz 0, Calma 0.
UPIS (37) – Manguerra 12, Addatu 11, Poquiz 7, Labao 5, Okebata 2, Bautista 0, Lugatiman 0, Floirendo 0, Rosete 0, Baldovino 0, Romey 0, Sebastian 0.
Quarterscores: 25-4, 41-15, 66-29, 86-37.
