Nazareth-NU opens NBTC title defense in impressive fashion

National U's Terrence Fortea vs Cauayan in the 2019 NBTC Nationals Super 32

Defending champions Nazareth-NU stamped its class at the 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC National Finals presented by SM, dispatching their Super 32 opponent Isabela Colleges-Cauayan by ninety points, 135-45.

The Bullpups torched IC-C with a 37-4 run in the first quarter, then allowed the lead to balloon to a fifty-point lead at 62-12. They then continued to push that lead to go as high as 93 points, while allowing Goldwin Monteverde to shuffle up his lineups.

Terrence Fortea led the charge with nineteen points, while Steve Nash Enriquez added seventeen markers on 7/10 shooting.

Monteverde shared after the win, "Actually, nag-usap na kami before the game how to be consistent sa ginagawa namin. We had a great campaign in the UAAP and nag-pick up din kami sa tinatakbo namin."

Also impressing in the Super 32 is FilAm Sports USA, as they dispatched Perpetual Help System Laguna, 86-55.

Kainoa Ballungay pounded the opposition with another 20-10 performance thanks to his 24 points and eleven rebounds. He scored eleven of those points in the first quarter to anchor the early charge for the Bong Ulep-coached squad.

Jeron Artest added twelve points, ten rebounds, and six assists, while Jalen Green chipped in eleven points and four assists. 

Far Eastern University rode on the shoulders of RJ Abarrientos to escape with a 90-86 victory over St. Augustine's Institute.

Trailing by as large as twelve points in the third quarter, 57-69, the Baby Tamaraws rode on their sharpshooter to anchor the comeback in the fourth. Abarrientos dropped sixteen in the final period to help overcome the deficit.

In concurrent action held at the Palm Coast Marina, Vance Caterbas' buzzer-beating putback allows Southern Philippine Colleges to escape with 69-67 win over AusPinoy. Another overseas-based team also got bounced out with Quezon's Calayan Educational Foundation, Inc dispatching Italy Europe Proudly Pinoy, 69-63.

NCAA champions Mapua/Malayan survived a game effort from Zamboanga del Sur National High School, 54-46.

The 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC National Finals presented by SM is also sponsored by Darlington-Exped Socks, EPSON, Huawei, Freego, Purefoods, Gatorade, Go for Gold, and Molten, It is also presented by ESPN5 and Lighthouse Events.

Admission to the games at the Mall of Asia Arena is free. Just present your valid ID.