THERE'S no change at the top of the leaderboard in UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball, with NU-Nazareth School and University of Santo Tomas taking care of business against separate opponents to stay at No. 1 and 2.
First, the Bullpups completed an elimination round sweep of last year's finals tormentor Adamson, 71-49, on Sunday at San Juan's Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Best Foreign Student-Athlete frontrunner Collins Akowe overwhelmed anybody put in front of him en route to a 28-point, 22-rebound double-double, while Mac Alfanta delivered 15 markers, three assists, and two steals for the still-spotless blue-and-gold.
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National U was in complete command all throughout and mounted a lead of as much as 30.
"Enough motivation para sa amin ito, pero siyempre, hindi pa naman tapos yung season. Thankful lang kami na binigay sa amin yung panalo na ito," said head coach Kevin de Castro following their ninth win out of nine games coming at the expense of the Baby Falcons who defeated them in the finals a season ago.
De Castro's wards may very well find a new foe in the championship series this time around, as the Tiger Cubs scored their eighth consecutive victory after outlasting very game University of the East, 73-71.
Racine Kane yet again dominated down low with 13 points and 13 rebounds, but it was his assist to Charles Bucsit in the dying seconds that proved to be the difference for the 8-1 Tiger Cubs. Game-winning Bucsit wound up with 16 markers and five boards, also including two clutch free throws that broke the last deadlock of the game with under five minutes left.
Joaqui Ludovice and Kirk Canete then combined for 18 points, nine assists, and six rebounds to make sure the black-and-gold overcame the Jr. Warriors' massive 41-8 edge in terms of bench points.
Forget FEU at your own risk
Far Eastern University-Diliman, of course, has plans to foil the NUNS-UST finals showdown by getting back on track thanks to a 75-44 romp over Ateneo.
Mico Pascual and Khean Esperanza led five Baby Tamaraws in double-digits with 11 points apiece in their wire-to-wire win. MVP leader Cabs Cabonilas also added an all-around 10 markers, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals to help his side end their two-game slump.
Now at 6-3, the green-and-gold still has a fighting chance at a top two spot, as well as the twice-to-beat advantage it entails.
Also remaining in the running is De La Salle Zobel which pounded on already-grounded University of the Philippines Integrated School, 73-62.
Bonn Daja posted a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds to provide long-awaited support for Kieffer Alas who nonetheless flirted with a triple-double with 17 markers, 18 boards, nine assists, and two blocks.
The Jr. Archers halted a four-game slide and improved to 4-5, tied with defending champion Adamson and UE.
Mark Esperanza showed the way for the Baby Falcons with 18 points on top of four rebounds and three assists, while Ethan Aguas paced the Jr. Warriors with 17 markers and five boards.
The Jr. Maroons, meanwhile, are yet to win through nine tries, as the Blue Eagles are just slightly ahead of them with one win.
The Scores:
First Game
NUNS 71 - Akowe 28, Alfanta 15, Loscin 10, Palanca 10, Figueroa 4, Matias 2, Pillado 2, Cartel 0, Natinga 0, Usop 0, Solomon 0, Nepacena 0, Napa 0, Casala 0, Bouzina 0.
ADAMSON 49 - Esperanza 18, Medina 15, Sajili 6, Perez 4, Umali 3, Tumaneng 2, Abayon 1, Murillo 0, De Jesus 0, Penafiel 0.
Quarters: 20-14, 37-23, 60-33, 71-49.
Second Game
DLSZ 73 - Daja 23, Alas 17, Gubat 9, Espinosa 7, Dabao 6, Atienza 5, Arejola 2, Favis 2, Borrero 2, Reguera 0, Mben 0, Lopez 0.
UPIS 62 - Tubongbanua 16, Egea 15, Hallare 12, Gomez de Liano 9, Melicor 8, Uvero 2, Poquiz 0, Coronel 0.
Quarters: 23-17, 35-36, 57-43, 73-62.
Third Game
FEU-DILIMAN 75 - Pascual 11, Esperanza 11, Cabonilas 10 Hall 10, Salangsang 10, Godoy 9, Burgos 6, Gemao 4, Raneses 2, Gutierrez 2, Castillejos 0, Cagurungan 0, Dagcutan 0, Santos 0, Maierhofer 0, De Guzman 0.
ATENEO 44 - Urbina 15, Tan 7, Delos Santos 6, Leal 5, Kallos 3, Gatmaitan 2, Asistio 2, Lagdamen 0, Reyes 0, Trinidad 0.
Quarters: 17-14, 35-30, 53-36, 75-44.
Fourth Game
UST 73 - Kane 19, Bucsit 16, Ludovice 12, Buenaflor 12, Canete 6, Manding 4, Acido 2, Solon 2, Esteban 0.
UE 71 - Aguas 17, Lagat 13, Alejandro 10, Sabroso 10, Lorenzo 4, Bual 4, Bana 4, Diaz 4, Timbol 0, Cuevas 0, Almanza 0, Farochilen 0.
Quarters: 17-19, 41-41, 54-59, 73-71.
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