 |
| c/o UAAP |
Games on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre
8 a.m. - Ateneo vs UPIS (Boys)
10 a.m. - UE vs DLSZ (Boys)
12 p.m. - AdU vs NUNS (Boys)
2 p.m. - FEU-D vs UST (Boys)
4 p.m. - DLSZ vs Ateneo (Girls)
NATIONAL University Nazareth School barely avoided the upset axe of University of the East, 78-77, to move a win away from sweeping the UAAP Season 87 High School Boys’ Basketball first round on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Bullpups led 63-52 entering the fourth quarter but the Junior Warriors would not go away quickly, chipping away at the deficit.
With NUNS still ahead 78-70 with 1:34 left in the game after two free throws from Collins Akowe, UE unleashed a final run that was kickstarted by Xedric Diaz’s three-pointer followed by a split at the line by Edry Alejandro with 59.3 seconds remaining to slash the hole to 74-78.
Kristoper Lagat then made his mark with 32.8 ticks to go, draining a step-back triple to make it a one-point deficit for the Junior Warriors, 77-78.
In the ensuing play, Akowe missed his shot, paving the way for a reversal for UE, but it could not capitalize. Diaz first missed a deep three-pointer but Alejandro ended up with the offensive rebound, launching a triple himself but also missed to give NUNS the league-leading 6-0 record.
Head coach Kevin de Castro called this victory, the Bullpups’ first single-digit win this season after rampaging through their first five matches, a needed wake-up call, especially with the defending champion Adamson University Baby Falcons their next opponent.
“Ito ‘yung sinasabi ko from the start na we don’t have to relax kasi wala pa naman tayong napapatunayan. At least ngayon na-test namin na hindi pa talaga kami ‘yung dominating team na sinasabi ng mga tao,” said De Castro.
“At least ngayon pa lang first round naexperience na namin ito. Wake-up call ito para sa amin… improve pa namin ‘yung depensa namin lalo next game namin defending champion,” he continued as the rematch of last year’s Finals, NUNS and Adamson, will be on Sunday, 12 p.m., still at the San Juan venue.
Akowe posted a monster double-double anew for the Bullpups with 27 points and 24 rebounds to go with two blocks but he had five turnovers.
Miguel Palanca added 16 points and seven rebounds, while Mac Alfanta tallied 11 points in the triumph.
Lagat paced UE with 17 points and six rebounds, while Drei Lorenzo chimed in 15 points - all from beyond the arc.
Diaz also made 14 points and five assists while Alejandro got 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Junior Warriors received their third-straight loss for a 2-4 record at solo sixth.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas banked on late-game heroics by Wacky Ludovice and Racine Kane to edge out winless Ateneo de Manila University, 69-59, and extend its winning streak to five games for a 5-1 record at second spot.
Chris Urbina went on a personal tear, scoring 10 straight points for the Blue Eagles to pull the team within one with 2:33 left in the game, 59-60.
However, the Tiger Cubs closed out the match with nine unanswered points with four coming from Ludovice on two acrobatic layups, two from Kane, and three from free throws by Carl Manding and Charles Bucsit.
“We’re not happy with the way we played. Buti na lang nung crunch time nakapag-execute kami kasi nung ibang quarters nag kanya-kanya, wala sa system yung ginagawa nila kasi they took the game lightly kaya nag backfire sa amin. Buti nagrespond yung key players nung crucial,” said UST head coach Manu Iñigo.
Ludovice finished with 19 points while Koji Buenaflor broke out with 18 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
Senegalese big man Kane also had a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds to go with three steals and two blocks although he committed eight turnovers.
Urbina spearheaded Ateneo’s stand with 19 points, three rebounds, and three assists against six turnovers. Jay Leal added 11 points and 12 rebounds in the defeat, which saw the Blue Eagles’ winless start extended to six games.
The Scores:
First Game (Boys)
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.
Quarterscores: 24-11, 40-29, 63-52, 78-77.
Second Game (Boys)
UST 69 - Ludovice 19, Buenaflor 18, Kane 13, Bucsit 7, Acido 7, Esteban 2, Solon 2, Manding 1, Cañete 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.
Quarterscores: 14-19, 37-36, 51-42, 69-59.
No comments:
Post a Comment