Zobel stuns NUNS to open UAAP JHS tournament

c/o UAAP

DE LA SALLE-Zobel pulled off a massive upset on the opening day of the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament, taking down inaugural champion National University Nazareth School, 83-62, on Sunday at Adamson Gym.

It was a monumental win for the Junior Archers program, scoring its first win over the Bullpups for the first time since Game 2 of the UAAP Season 78 Boys’ Basketball Tournament back on February 26, 2015 — a 71-60 victory which was led by the duo of Aljun Melecio and Marco Sario.

“Actually, it was not easy kasi 13 yung bago dito, three lang ang natira from last year,” said Junior Archers 16-under head coach Penny Laureaga after their win in this tournament that has been promoted to regular status this season.

“Ang ginawa lang namin, just be consistent. Lagi ko sa kanila sinasabi ‘yan and the rest will follow.”

Figuring in a close opening quarter, Melvin Tailan took charge for DLSZ, powering his side to a 25-point second stanza while helping limit NUNS to just 11 points to gain a 44-27 lead.

Tailan ended up with a day-high 27 points with six rebounds and three steals.

“Tailan is part din ng under-19 team namin. Ang laki ng pinagbago ng attitude at laro niya from last year to this year. Na cover niya yung nawala na production ni Ken (Atienza),” said Laureaga about Tailan, a 5-foot-10 guard from San Pablo City, Laguna.

DLSZ’s lead reached a peak of 23 points, 53-30, early in the third canto.

Vince Magan and Ram Luna complemented their captain’s efforts with the former chipping in 21 points on four treys while Luna tallied 12 points, seven steals, six assists, and five rebounds.

The Bullpups, whose core of Rob Celiz, Shaun Lucido, and Mot Matias have gone up the 19-and-under ranks, were led by Chester Tulabut’s 15 points.

Also picking up opening-day wins were last season’s finalists, Far Eastern University-Diliman, third-placers University of the East, and Ateneo de Manila University.

The Baby Tamaraws, who suffered a heartbreaking 67-65 loss to the Bullpups in last season’s finals, overwhelmed the Adamson Baby Falcons, 81-55, to begin their redemption journey.

“Masakit yung nangyari sa amin last year,” recalled new Baby Tams head coach Muriel Garcia, who took over for Mark Isip — now an assistant coach for Raiza Palmera-Dy’s Lady Tamaraws.

“Sabi lang namin sa mga bata, hanapin yung better shots, wag muna yung best shots. Kaso naging gigil. Kaya sabi ko, kalma lang tayo para makuha yung goal natin,” he added, still remembering the buzzer-beater from Rob Celiz that stunned them last May 4.

Four Baby Tams scored in double digits, with Anton Lopez leading the charge with 13 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals.

CP Miranda, son of FEU head of basketball operations Denok Miranda, contributed 12 points and five rebounds; Kierdy Victoria added 11 points, while Prince Cariño, a holdover from last season’s team, chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds.

Meanwhile, Jolo Pascual and Gab Delos Reyes led the Junior Warriors to a 69-51 victory over the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs.

Pascual, a recruit from Tarlac, proved his value with a game-high 18 points, while Delos Reyes, a transferee from San Beda-Alabang, notched a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.

“Yes, I’m very happy na na-overcome nila ang first-game jitters. A lot of our players are rookies, but they still stuck to our game plan. Very happy for them,” said Junior Warriors head coach Andrew Estrella, who decided to field just 11 players for this tournament.

UE was also bolstered by the efforts of holdover Enrico Bungar, who contributed 11 points, and 14-year-old big man Goodluck Okebata, who grabbed 10 rebounds and scored 3 points.

On the other side, Jhon Canapi and Andwele Cabanero, the younger brother of Tigers skipper Nic, led the Tiger Cubs with 14 points each but struggled from the field, shooting a combined 10-of-38.

The Baby Falcons, who went winless last season, were paced by Edison Jordan’s 13 points.

Zane Kallos continued his fine form for the Blue Eagles, delivering 21 points and 21 rebounds to lead Ateneo to a dominant 76-42 win over the debuting University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons.

Supporting Kallos were Sky Jazul, son of PBA player RJ Jazul, who scored 15 points, and YJ Lacsamana, who also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

UPIS, which skipped last season’s tournament, was led by Bruce Tubongbanua, who posted 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Tubongbanua also played for UPIS’s 19-under team last season.

The Scores:

First Game:

Ateneo 76 - Kallos 21, Jazul 15, Lacsamana 15, Juangco 7, Ngo 5, Ramos 3, Molina 2, Pineda 2, Hwang 2, Valte 2, Divinagracia 2, Meresen 0, Fernandez 0, Bernarte 0, Ylen 0, Dela Rosa 0.

UPIS 42 - Tubgongbanua 16, Hallare 8, Addatu 7, Cobico 7, Gepitan 2, Labao 0, Repane 0, Baldovino 0, Lugatiman 0, Rosete 0.

Quarterscores: 20-19, 40-26, 60-37, 76-42

Second Game:

UE 69 - Pascual 18, Bungar 11, Delos Reyes 10, Mesina 9, Panganiban 6, Garcia 5, Ferreros 3, Okebata 3, Oraa 2, Orca 2, Dalosa 0.

UST 51 - Canapi 14, Cabanero 14, Bathan 8, Jubilado 6, Castro 6, Balague 3, Guinto 0, Lim 0, Javier 0, Guerrero 0, Villacarlos 0, Duenas 0, Aguilar 0, Yu 0.

Quarterscores: 22-12, 37-29, 54-39, 69-51.

Third Game:

FEU-D 81 - Lopez 13, Miranda 12, Victoria 11, Carino 10, Santos 8, Dulin 7, Enriquez 5, Diaz 4, Pasinos 3, Pingris 2, Chavez 2, Pineda 2, Adriano 2, Lassiter 0, Barlan 0, Daa 0.

ADU 55 - Jordan K.E. 13, Fongtong 8, Gomez 8, Iledan 8, Damaian 7, Banate 5, Alcantara 3, Tiamzon 1, Tiazon 1, Ondevilla 1, Jordan K.A. 0, Azurias 0, Ang 0.

Quarterscores: 19-9, 49-15, 59-32, 81-55.

Fourth Game:

DLSZ 83 - Tailan 27, Magan 21, Luna 12, Tan 9, Centeno 6, Llamas 5, Rivera 2, Apao 1, Maglipon 0, Purugganan E. 0, Purugganan I. 0, Mindanao 0, Fuentes 0, Sorongon 0.

NUNS 62 - Tulabot 15, Sabareza 13, Tadeo 9, Pena Y. 6, Khobuntin 5, Pena N. 5, Urea 2, Reroma 2, Vitug 2, Toring 2, Gutierez 0.

Quarterscores: 19-16, 44-27, 64-52, 83-62.