NU-NAZARETH School earned itself a well-deserved confidence boost in the UAAP Season 88 boys' basketball tournament after fashioning a hardfought 80-72 victory vs. erstwhile streaking FEU-Diliman on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Momentum leaned in favor of the Bullpups after a 25-7 second quarter blitz that saw the green-and-gold looking down the barrel of a deficit that went as high as 20.
While the Baby Tamaraws picked up the pace to in the second half, the blue-and-gold advantage proved to be more than enough to improve to 8-2, forging a tie for first-place.
“Na-define namin yung roles nila. Yung mga tasks na binibigay namin sa kanila, nama-maximize namin yung bawat isa,” said NUNS head coach Kevin De Castro, as they ended FEU-D's win run at seven straight.
Most of De Castro’s squad was firing in efficient percentages, headlined by Shaun Lucido and Corian Cabantog, who had 14 points each.
Mot Matias was also instrumental in unleashing their firepower on the Baby Tams, with his nine assists on top of 12 markers and five steals, as their top scorer in Mieko Natinga didn’t even run with the starters yet still chipped in 17 off the bench.
For FEU-D, Cabs Cabonilas still delivered a double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds, but it came at an inefficient 7-of-19 from the field. Mac Burgos, meanwhile, shot an even worse 1-of-12 off the bench, succumbing to the Bullpups’ defensive pressure.
JB Cagurungan and Sam Hall were the only steady performers among coach Mike Reyes' wards, with 16 points for the former and 13 on perfect shooting for the latter.
Meanwhile, De La Salle Zobel completed a 80-72 statement win against once-league-leading archrival Ateneo.
The Blue Eagles were breathing down the Jr. Archers' necks the entire game, but the green-and-white's 11-2 run in crunch time fended them off for good.
DLSZ defense also proved pivotal, as it forced 23 turnovers from Ateneo, its sloppiest showing of the season.
Maco Dabao went on a burner, dropping 24 points, with nine coming in the final frame, and five assists. He was flanked by Mark Borrero, who had 14 points and five assists of his own.
On the other end, Jude Eriobu’s 25 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks were for naught, as he was suppressed to just two points in the fourth quarter.
With the result, the Blue Eagles dropped to third in the standings at 7-3, as the Jr. Archers claimed solo fourth.
Much-needed wins for UST, UE
In the earlier games, defending champion University of Santo Tomas returned to the win column after escaping Adamson, 75-73.
Kirk Cañete led the Tiger Cubs with 14 points and five assists, followed by Oja Ajani who delivered a dominant 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Not a lot has gone right for the reigning titlists, but at 4-6, they nonetheless find themselves in a three-way logjam for fifth.
Jarl Artango finished with 18 points and four steals, as the nine-man Baby Falcons absorbed their second straight loss to fall to 4-6.
Also now at 4-6 is University of the East which shook off its two-game losing streak at the expense of University of the Philippines Integrated School via a 94-61 beatdown.
Jamal Diaz led the Jr. Warriors' charge with 20 points, six steals, and three assists, while Jhustin Hallare and his 21 points and five three-pointers fronted the effort for the still-winless Jr. Maroons.
The Scores:
First Game
UE 94 - Diaz 20, Braga 14, Edoukou 10, Ferreros 8, Roquid 6, Oraa 6, Panganiban 6, Copada 6, Lorenzo 5, Bual 3, Delos Reyes 3, Abellar 3, Aguas 2, Pascual 2, Orca 0, Timbol 0.
UPIS 61 - Hallare 21, Tubongbanua 16, Lugatiman 11, Labao 8, Poquiz 2, Addatu 2, Ryan 0, Rosete 0, Rosete 0, Hernandez 0, Cobico 0.
Quarters: 25-14, 60-28, 72-46, 94-61.
Second Game
UST 75 - Cañete 14, Ajani 11, Melano 11, Ludovice 9, Esteban 9, Sta. Maria 7, Bohol 6, Canapi 5, Pulongbarit 3, Bandigan 0, Lapastora 0, Bathan 0, Candare 0, Vidanes 0.
ADAMSON 73 - Artango 18, Flores 14, Iledan 11, Bautista 10, Jenodia 9, Garcia 5, Gomez 3, Frogoso 2, Babad 1.
Quarters: 29-21, 44-33, 57-46, 75-73.
Third Game
NUNS 80 - Natinga 17, Lucido 14, Cabantog 14, Matias 12, Figueroa 6, Matias 5, Diakite 5, Juan 3, Cartel 2, Bouzina 2.
FEU-D 72 - Cabonilas 17, Cagurungan 16, Hall 13, Esperanza 9, Gaye 8, Cariño 4, Rañeses 3, Burgos 2, Alagaban 0, Santos 0, Sohm 0.
Quarters: 17-16, 42-23, 62-46, 80-72.
Fourth Game
DLSZ 80 - Dabao 24, Borrero 14, Ferrer 13, Atienza 8, Mikailu 8, Favis 8, Arejola 5, Alpapara 0, Llamas 0, Luna 0, Dimayuga 0.
ATENEO 72 - Eriobu 25, Leal 14, Banal 11, Tamayo 6, Espinas 5, Reyes 5, Kaw 3, Aquino 2, Madrangca 1, Kallos 0, Gatmaitan 0
Quarters: 25-18, 48-37, 58-56, 80-72
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