BY Gwen Bergado
ALMOST yielding its undefeated streak in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament on Thursday was NU-Nazareth School.
The key word being almost, however, as the Bullpups escaped past University of the East, 78-77, in a thrilling tiff inside the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Collins Akowe was at the forefront of the blue-and-gold attack anew with a 27-point, 24-rebound double-double, while Migs Palanca backed him up with 16 markers, enough to retain their flawless start through six games.
The paint was still the place to be for NUNS, as it registered 54 of its points from there, compared to the Jr. Warriors who relied on their outside shooting with 13 three-pointers.
From down 17 points, it was Kristopher Lagat and Nicholash Lorenzo who teamed up to orchestrate UE's comeback in the second half, where they totaled 10 treys.
On the shoulders of their reigning MVP, however, the Bullpups held on for the win after contesting Edry Alejandro's last gasp shot in the dying moments just well enough.
Lagat (17 points) and Lorenzo (15 points) were joined by Xedric Diaz who had 14 markers and five assists for now-2-4 UE.
Chasing pace-setting NUNS
Still trailing NUNS joined at the second seed are Far Eastern University-Diliman and University of Santo Tomas, now both at 5-1.
The Baby Tamaraws overwhelmed suddenly-struggling De La Salle Zobel for a convincing 76-55 victory.
Cabs Cabonilas powered through both ends and had a double-double outing of 17 points and 13 boards alongside Marc Burgos who tallied 16 points and seven rebounds for FEU-Diliman's third win in a row.
The Tiger Cubs also remained red-hot after thwarting Ateneo for a 69-59 decision.
The duo of Koji Buenaflor (18 points, 13 rebounds) and Racine Kane (13 points, 14 boards) were more than enough to make sure UST scored a fifth consecutive victory following a season-opening loss.
Despite their second straight defeat, Kieffer Alas continued to shine for the Jr. Archers with 16 points and 12 boards, as Chris Urbina paced the still-winless Blue Eagles with 19 markers.
Meanwhile, defending champion Adamson is slowly but surely coming back to its senses thanks to a triumph over the University of the Philippines Integrated School, 65-54.
CJ Umali top-scored for the Baby Falcons with 18 points, followed by Mark Esperanza with 17 and Earl Medina with 11 markers and 10 rebounds.
Three Jr. Maroons breached double-figures in Nathan Egea (17 points, 11 rebounds), Bruce Tubongbanua (14 points, 11 rebounds), and Jaime Gomez de Liano (11 points, 10 rebounds), which all still went to waste as they dropped to 0-6.
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
Quarters: 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, Canete 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
Quarters: 14-19, 37-36, 51-42, 69-59
Third Game
FEU-DILIMAN 76— Cabonilas 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, Gutierres 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
Quarters: 19-11, 39-26, 59-34, 76-55
Fourth Game
ADAMSON 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 Liano 11, Melicor 8, Hallare 4, Uvero 0, Poquiz 0, Coronel 0
Quarters: 11-15, 34-28, 58-40, 65-54
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