NUNS with a strong finish in JHS basketball

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Boys’ Basketball Standings

UE 7-0

FEU-D 6-1

DLSZ 4-3

UST 4-3

NUNS 4-4

Ateneo 4-4

AdU 1-7

UPIS 0-8

Games Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena

10 a.m. – FEU-D vs UST (JHS)

12 p.m.  – UE vs DLSZ (JHS)

4 p.m. – NU vs FEU (Men)

6 p.m. – DLSU vs UST (Men)

NATIONAL University Nazareth School took control in the payoff period to stave off the tough stand of a gritty Adamson University side with a 76-64 victory in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The win propelled the Bullpups to their second straight win, opening the second round on a high note, tying Ateneo for fifth with 4-4 slates.

The Blue Eagles defeated the UPIS Fighting Maroons yesterday, 78-60, to open the round.

“Sinasabi ko lang sa kanila na keep your composure. Talagang basketball is a game of runs. Dito lalabas yung character natin, na hindi tayo papadala doon sa run na ginagawa ng kalaban namin. At least kahit papaano, nakuha yung mga bata yung composure na hinahanap namin,” said Bullpups head coach Kevin de Castro. 

The Bullpups did not capitalize on their comfortable 12-point halftime cushion, 44-32, after faltering to the Baby Falcons’ strong 21-11 third quarter performance that saw their lead trimmed to two, 55-53, heading into the payoff period. 

However, the Bullpups waxed hot at the right time, leaning on the heroics of Zui Urea, Nick Pena, and Chester Tulabut for a 9-2 run that sent the Baby Falcons down a nine-point hole, 64-55, with less than six minutes left. 

NUNS countered the late baskets of Khyian Jordan and Vlex Azurias with three straight layups by Tulabut, a reverse layup by Nick Pena, and an inside hit from David Sabareza to regain a 14-point cushion, 74-60, and seal its fourth win with 1:33 left on the clock.

“First back-to-back wins namin this season, ang next game namin ay UE. Gagamitin namin ito as springboard papunta doon sa UE sa next game namin. Actually undefeated, mahirap, pero titignan namin,” De Castro added. 

Nick Pena led NUNS’ well-distributed scoring load with 21 points on 5-of-10 from beyond the arc to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, and one block, while Tulabut chipped in 14 points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals, and a block. 

Urea steered the Bullpups’ offense with 12 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and two steals, while Big Mac Tadeo contributed 12 points and seven rebounds. 

NUNS’ bid for its third straight win faces a daunting task in the form of an undefeated University of the East side next Sunday, Oct. 20, 8 a.m., at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. 

Jordan paced Adamson in the losing effort with 21 points, seven rebounds, five steals, four assists, and a block, while Chrys Gomez struggled from the field with 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting but still contributed four assists and three rebounds. 

Fongtong nearly tallied a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Kiefe Iledan chipped in 10 points, seven assists, and two assists.

Adamson suffered its second straight loss to remain in seventh place in the standings with a 1-7 card.

The Baby Falcons will have a 14-day break before it returns to action against the Blue Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 27, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. 

The Scores:

NUNS (76) - N. Pena 21, Tulabut 14, Urea 12, Tadeo 12, Y. Pena 8, Sabareza 5, Vitug 4, Khobuntin 0, Toring 0, Maranan 0, Gutierrez 0, Quinto 0.

ADU (64) - Jordan 21, Gomez 13, Fongtong 11, Iledan 10, Azurias 5, Fransman 3, Banate 1, Ondevilla 0, Alcantara 0.

Quarterscores: 18-18, 44-32, 55-53, 76-64