NATIONAL University Nazareth School (NUNS) narrowly escaped an upset against University of the East (UE), eking out a 78-77 victory to move one win away from sweeping the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball first round on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Bullpups led 63-52 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Junior Warriors refused to back down, steadily chipping away at the deficit.
NUNS still held a comfortable 78-70 advantage with 1:34 left after two free throws from Collins Akowe. However, UE mounted a final rally, starting with a three-pointer from Xedric Diaz, followed by Edry Alejandro splitting his free throws with 59.3 seconds remaining to cut the gap to 74-78.
Kristoper Lagat then stepped up for the Junior Warriors, draining a step-back triple with 32.8 seconds left to bring them within one, 77-78.
On the next possession, Akowe missed a crucial shot, giving UE an opportunity to snatch the win. Diaz misfired on a deep three, but Alejandro secured the offensive rebound and launched a triple of his own—only to miss as well—allowing NUNS to secure its league-leading 6-0 record.
Head coach Kevin de Castro acknowledged the close call, noting that this was the Bullpups’ first single-digit victory after dominant performances in their first five games. He emphasized that it served as a wake-up call, especially with defending champion Adamson University up next.
“Ito ‘yung sinasabi ko from the start na we don’t have to relax kasi wala pa naman tayong napapatunayan. At least ngayon na-test namin na hindi pa talaga kami ‘yung dominating team na sinasabi ng mga tao,” said De Castro.
“At least ngayon pa lang first round na-experience na namin ito. Wake-up call ito para sa amin… improve pa namin ‘yung depensa namin lalo next game namin defending champion,” he added.
Akowe delivered a monstrous double-double for NUNS with 27 points, 24 rebounds, and two blocks, though he committed five turnovers. Miguel Palanca added 16 points and seven boards, while Mac Alfanta contributed 11 points in the win.
Lagat paced UE with 17 points and six rebounds, while Drei Lorenzo drilled all of his 15 points from beyond the arc. Diaz chipped in 14 points and five assists, while Alejandro tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Junior Warriors suffered their third straight loss, dropping to a 2-4 record, good for solo sixth.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) remained tied for second.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The Tiger Cubs leaned on late-game heroics from Wacky Ludovice and Racine Kane to edge out winless Ateneo, 69-59, while the Baby Tamaraws cruised past De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ), 76-55.
Chris Urbina spearheaded a late Ateneo rally, scoring 10 consecutive points to bring the Blue Eagles within one, 59-60, with 2:33 left. However, UST closed the game with a 9-0 run, highlighted by two acrobatic layups from Ludovice, a crucial bucket from Kane, and free throws from Carl Manding and Charles Bucsit.
“We’re not happy with the way we played. Buti na lang nung crunch time nakapag-execute kami kasi nung ibang quarters nagkanya-kanya, wala sa system ‘yung ginagawa nila kasi they took the game lightly kaya nag-backfire sa amin. Buti nag-respond ‘yung key players nung crucial,” said UST head coach Manu Iñigo.
Ludovice led UST with 19 points, while Koji Buenaflor had a breakout performance with 18 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. Senegalese big man Kane posted a double-double with 13 points, 14 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks, despite committing eight turnovers.
“Yung effort na parati kong sinasabi sa kanila sa depensa, nakuha namin. Nung first half hindi ako nakuntento doon sa rebound, nung second half nacontrol na namin,” said FEU-D head coach Denok Miranda, who returned after leading the school’s juniors team to gold in the B.League U16 Cup in Japan.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
FEU-D built on a 13-point halftime lead, holding DLSZ to just eight points in the third while scoring 20 to extend their cushion to 25, 59-34. The Baby Tamaraws secured their third consecutive win, improving to 5-1, tied with UST at second place.
FEU-D and UST will clash on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the same venue to close their first-round campaigns.
Cabs Cabonillas led FEU-D with 17 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three steals, while Marc Burgos added 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In the fourth game, Adamson overcame a sluggish first half with a dominant third quarter to seize a 58-40 lead. However, UPIS fought back with an 11-0 run to open the fourth, cutting the deficit to seven, 51-58, with 3:58 remaining.
The defending champions responded with timely baskets from Mark Esperanza and Earl Medina, securing their third win in six games to tie DLSZ at fourth place.
“Same pa rin ang flaws namin—slow start, inconsistency in defense, tentative on offense. Sabi ko nga, who will contribute positively? Good thing si CJ nag-contribute positively,” said Adamson head coach Mike Fermin.
CJ Umali was a spark off the bench for the Baby Falcons, scoring 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting from three. Esperanza contributed 17 points, seven assists, and four rebounds, while Medina recorded 11 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Jireh Tumaneng added 10 points and five boards.
Kieffer Alas led DLSZ with 16 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while Paul Reguera and JC Espinosa scored 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year, Ethan Egea, put up 17 points and 11 rebounds for UPIS, but his squad remained winless after six games.
Urbina carried Ateneo with 19 points, three rebounds, and three assists despite six turnovers, while Jay Leal chipped in 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Blue Eagles also remained winless after six contests.
The Scores:
First Game
NUNS 78 – Akowe 27, Palanca 16, Alfanta 11, Cartel 9, Locsin 8, Figueroa 4, Napa 3, Matias 0, Pillado 0, Solomon 0, Usop 0.
UE 77 – Lagat 17, Lorenzo 15, Diaz 14, Alejandro 11, Aguas 6, Chua 4, Sabroso 4, Timbol 3, Bana 2, Bual 1, Almanza 0.
Quarterscores: 24-11, 40-29, 63-52, 78-77.
Second Game
UST 69 – Ludovice 19, Buenaflor 18, Kane 13, Bucsit 7, Acido 7, Esteban 2, Solon 2, Manding 1, Cañete 0, Cinco 0, Bandingan 0.
Ateneo 59 – Urbina 19, Leal 11, Tan 7, Delos Santos 6, Espinas 4, Asistio 4, Lagdamen 3, Kallos 3, Lacsamana 2, Ymasa 0, Gatmaitan 0, Reyes 0.
Quarterscores: 14-19, 37-36, 51-42, 69-59.
Third Game
FEU-D 76 – Cabonillas 17, Burgos 16, Pascual 12, Raneses 9, De Guzman 6, Godoy 5, Salangsang 4, Gemao 4, Esperanza 3, Dagcutan 0, Hall 0, Santos 0, Castillejos 0, Cagurungan 0, Maierhofer 0.
DLSZ 55 – Alas 16, Reguera 14, Espinosa 11, Dabao 7, Daja 2, Mben 2, Alpapara 2, Borrero 1, Arejola 0, Atienza 0, Tailan 0, Favis 0, Lopez 0, Gubat 0.
Quarterscores: 19-11, 39-26, 59-34, 76-55.
Fourth Game
AdU 65 – Umali 18, Esperanza 17, Medina 11, Tumaneng 10, Perez 6, De Jesus 3, Abayon 0, Decatoria 0, Sajili 0, Murillo 0, Garcia 0, Matilliano 0, Jenodia 0, Penafiel 0.
UPIS 54 – Egea 17, Tubongbanua 14, Gomez de Liaño 11, Melicor 8, Hallare 4, Uvero 0, Poquiz 0, Coronel 0.
Quarterscores: 11-15, 34-28, 58-40, 65-54.
