National University Nazareth School and the University of Santo Tomas continued their strong starts in the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament with dominant wins on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Bullpups leaned on the duo of Moussa Diakite and Mark Arzola to secure a 78-66 victory over the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, while the Tiger Cubs romped past the De La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers, 91-70.
Malian center Diakite and guard Arzola each scored 17 points, pulling down 14 and 10 rebounds, respectively, to lead NUNS.
The Bullpups held a 42-27 lead after Arzola’s basket with 1:18 left in the second quarter, but their 15-point cushion dwindled to just 45-44 following a 17-3 run by Prince Cariño, Prince Pineda, and Dwyne Enriquez, with 5:43 left in the third quarter.
That proved to be NUNS’ closest challenge, as Clark Khobuntin, David Sabareza, Jehove Gatumbato, Ean Tria, and Arzola countered FEU-D’s efforts to reclaim a 61-53 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Bullpups then sealed the win in the final period, with Dwyne Enriquez’s three-pointer, Gatumbato and Tria’s baskets, and Diakite’s dunk stretching the lead to 74-63—too large for FEU-D to recover from.
“Nagpalit lang din kami ng defense kasi nahuli na nila yung kind of defense (na ginamit namin),” said Bullpups coach Leo Pujante. “Nung start of third, yung ginamit naming defense ay yung ginamit namin nung first half. Siguro na-ano na nila nung halftime, so iniba lang namin yung defense para makabangon.”
Aside from Diakite and Arzola, Tria had a standout game with 14 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while Khobuntin added six points and 12 rebounds.
Ian Jay Manalo missed the game due to illness.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UST, CJ Tabbuga scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Miguel Jubilado added 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists to lead the Tiger Cubs to a 2-0 record.
UST relied on a strong second-half surge to overcome DLSZ. After John Mindanao’s three-pointer and follow-up free throw brought the Junior Archers within 56-53 with 7:06 left in the third quarter, Chan Guinto, Dave Regala, Wayne Anggot, and Jubilado responded with a 16-7 run that gave UST a 72-60 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Tiger Cubs maintained momentum, with Gab Castro’s basket capping a 10-2 sequence that extended their lead to 82-62 with 6:15 remaining, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Lorenzo Purugganan personified DLSZ’s struggles in the second half, having scored 23 of his 25 points in the first half—a fact highlighted by Tiger Cubs head coach Noli Mejos after the game.
“Isang linggo namin pinag-aralan ‘yung depensa kay Purugganan pero nag 23 points pa rin siya nung first half kaya talagang sinabi ko sa team nung halftime, sayang ‘yung preparation natin. Buti na lang nung second half sinunod nila lahat ‘yung defense namin,” said Mejos.
Guinto and Regala also delivered strong performances, contributing 16 points and 12 points with 11 rebounds, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Gilas Boys center Cariño led FEU-D with 15 points, while Pineda nearly recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 15 rebounds, and seven steals. Dwyne Enriquez added 14 points and seven assists.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For DLSZ, Jullian Pangan was the only other player to reach double digits after Purugganan, posting 14 points and 14 rebounds.
All four teams return to action this Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
UST and NUNS will tip off at 7:30 a.m., followed by DLSZ versus FEU-D at 10 a.m.
The Scores:
First Game (16U)
NUNS (78) – Diakite 17, Arzola 17, Tria 14, Gatumbato 6, Enriquez 6, Khobuntin 6, Sabereza 6, Peña 4, Yanga 2, Liwanag 0, Romero 0, Geron 0.
FEU-D (66) – Cariño 15, Pineda 14, Enriquez 14, Daa 9, Isip 6, Mampao 5, Cruz 2, Cañete 1, Mojica 0, Maghinay 0, Chavez 0, Barlan 0, Desiderio 0.
Quarterscores: 23-18, 42-31, 61-53, 78-66
Second Game
UST (91) – Tabbuga 25, Jubilado 20, Guinto 16, Regala 12, Anggot 6, Castro 6, Cabañero 2, Dueñas 2, Villacarlos 1, Retaga 1, Datu 0.
DLSZ (70) – L. Purugganan 25, Pangan 14, Dizon 8, I. Purugganan 6, Rivera 6, Mindanao 6, Delos Reyes 3, Quillo 2, Sy 0, Mercado 0, Meloto 0.
Quarterscores: 23-23, 50-46, 72-60, 91-70
