National University Nazareth School clinched the final semifinal berth in the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ 3×3 Basketball Tournament after exacting revenge on University of Santo Tomas, 21-17, on Saturday at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque.
Just a month removed from being swept in three games by UST in the 5-on-5 tournament, the Bullpups came out with a chip on their shoulder, eliminating the Tiger Cubs and dashing their hopes for a golden double.
Migs Palanca led the charge with 10 points on 9-of-12 shooting, while fellow Grade 12 standout Macmac Alfanta contributed nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.
In other boys’ games, Far Eastern University-Diliman swept the elimination round after edging Adamson, 18-15, while University of the Philippines Integrated School stunned Ateneo de Manila University, 14-12.
With these results, Adamson, NUNS, and Ateneo ended the round with identical 4-3 records.
Despite Adamson holding the points advantage over Ateneo and NUNS, FIBA 3×3 rules state that the head-to-head between tied teams in case of ties between three or more teams will be used for the tiebreak.
With the Blue Eagles beating both the Bullpups and the Baby Falcons, they will take the second seed. The Bullpups, going 1-1, will be the third-ranked squad.
In the semifinals on Sunday, top seed FEU-Diliman will face Adamson, while Ateneo takes on NU Nazareth School in the knockout matches.
UST concluded the tournament in fifth place with a 3-4 slate and 122 quotient points, while UPIS also had a 3-4 record but trailed with 112 points. UE (2-5) and DLSZ (1-6) settled for seventh and eighth, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In a thrilling preview of Sunday’s girls’ final, the UST Junior Growling Tigresses outlasted archrival NUNS Lady Bullpups, 20-18, in overtime.
Down 18-16 with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation, Rhiane Perez forced extra time with an and-one conversion.
In the race-to-two overtime, reigning 5-on-5 MVP Barby Dajao took over, scoring on a tough drive before sealing the win with a fadeaway jumper.
Perez and Dajao finished with eight points apiece as both teams prepare to face each other again for the gold at 3:00 PM on Sunday in this tournament also supported by Molten Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Junior Lady Archers leaned on Ateneo-commit Erica De Luna, who delivered a dominant double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds to lead her team past the Blue Eagles, 21-12.
They will compete in the third-place match at 1:00 PM.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the junior high school boys division, Ateneo completed a perfect 7-0 sweep of the elimination round after narrowly escaping semifinalist UPIS, 21-19.
The two teams will open Sunday’s hostilities at 10:00 AM, followed by the clash between FEU-D and UST at 10:20 AM.
The Baby Tamaraws and the Junior Tiger Cubs enter the semifinals with strong momentum, having defeated the Baby Falcons (21-18) and Bullpups (21-7), respectively.
Defending 5-on-5 champions, the Junior Warriors, capped off their campaign on a high note with a 22-18 win over the Junior Archers.
UPIS and UE both finished the eliminations with 4-3 records, but UPIS secured the semis slot with a superior quotient, 130-119.
