NU Bullpups complete first round sweep after stopping FEU-Diliman, 79-76

By Anton Roxas Posted Aug 3rd 2013

The shotclock was winding down as Hubert Cani dribbled the basketball on the right side of the free-throw line. Standing between Cani and the basket was Marvin Lee, who was smiling, daring him to take a shot. The senior point guard then drove straight into Lee’s chest, absorbing the contact and having enough strength to put up a shot and convert. It had been a miserable afternoon for Cani who went 1/14 from the field, but that basket turned out to be the most crucial one of the game.

Cani put the Bullpups ahead for good, 75-74 with 20.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter as National University went on to defeat the league’s defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman, 79-76 to sweep the first round of eliminations in the UAAP Season 76 Juniors basketball tournament on Saturday, August 03, 2013 at the Arena in San Juan City.

“Hindi namin ine-expect (yung sweep). Ang mga bata kasi, gusto lang maglaro. Syempre, kailangan namin bawiin kung ano yung nawala sa amin. Nagsimula kami back to zero. Buti nalang yung mga batang ito nag-mature agad,” said NU Head Coach Jeff Napa.

Five Bullpups scored in double-digits including lanky 6’4” forward JP Cauilan who had a game-high 19 points. Sturdy 6’2” power forward Mark Dyke erupted with a monster double-double with 18 points and 20 rebounds.

JJ Domingo paced the Baby Tamaraws with 16 points. He also had a chance to send the game into overtime but misfired on his buzzer-beating triple attempt. Despite losing majority of their key players to graduation including Jerie Pingoy, Joshua Aguilon and Joel Christian Lee Yu, FEU-Diliman kept the game close until the very end.

“Syempre, hindi natin pede i-take for granted. Sila pa rin yung defending champions ng ligang ito. So, hindi basta-basta bibitaw yan. Ginawa lang namin yung trabaho sa amin and luckily, binigay sa amin tong panalo na to,” said Napa, who is coaching his fourth UAAP season with NU.

With the victory, the Bullpups have swept the first round of eliminations with a 7-0 record while ending FEU-Diliman’s 4-game winning streak, to put the Baby Tamaraws at 4-3.

Ateneo de Manila University also figured in a close encounter in their game against the University of Sto. Tomas. But, the Blue Eaglets were powered in the end by Mike Nieto who scored Ateneo’s last seven points to propel them to a 75-69 win over the Tiger Cubs.

Aaron Black’s 19 points led the way for the Blue Eaglets who finished the first round at second place with a 5-2 win-loss card. Isaiah Dandan exploded with 30 points but it was not enough to give UST the victory as they dropped to 3-4.

In the first game, the University of the East defeated Adamson University, 58-52 while De La Salle-Zobel held back the University of the Philippines Integrated School, 68-63.

The Junior Warriors finished the first round at fifth place with a 3-4 record while the Baby Falcons are at seventh place at 1-6. DLSZ sits at third place with a 5-2 win-loss card as UPIS remained dead last at 0-7.

Box scores:

First game:

UE 58 – Briones 15, Marata 9, Garcia 9, Mohamad 7, Altamirano 7, Del Rosario 6, Contorno 3, Antonio 2, Viajar 0, Peňalosa 0, Guttierez 0, Ceralde 0.

AdU 52 – Quinga 17, Beltran 8, Casiňo 7, Nemenzo 5, Munsayac 5, Madriaga 4, Navarro 2, Jamias 2, Camacho 2, Villos 0, Magkalas 0.

Quarter scoring: 10-11. 32-28, 43-40, 58-52.

Second game:

DLSZ 68 – Subido 25, Maldinger 17, Banzon 12, Melecio 4, Romero 3, Paraiso 2, Cabarrus 2, Abanilla 2, Quintos 1, Perez 0, Castro 0.

UPIS 63 – Dario 22, Lopez 8, Gregorio 8, Sablan 6, Pajarillaga 6, Gomez De Liano 6, Chua 5, Ragos 2, Tupaz 0, Jimenez 0.

Quarter scoring: 20-17, 41-30, 55-45, 68-63.

Third game:

ADMU 75 – Black 19, Nieto Mi. 14, Escaler 10, Nieto Ma. 8, Mendoza 8, Salandanan 6, Ravena 6, Joson 2, Ramos 0, Mamuyac 0, Magpoc 0, Jose 0, Calilung 0.

UST 69 – Dandan 30, Corre 10, Syyap 9, Mayor 9, Reyes 4, Salinas 3, Ramirez 2, Marcelo 2, Dela Serna 0, Borje 0, Berdijo 0.

Quarter scoring: 18-15, 28-37, 49-55, 75-69.

Fourth game:

NU 79 – Cauilan 19, Dyke 18, Go 15, Mosqueda 11, Battad 10, Cani 4, Lopena 1, Castillo 1, Manalang 0, Lapiz 0, Grealy 0, Claveria 0.

FEU-Diliman 76 – Domingo JJ. 16, Completo 14, Lee 13, Aquino 11, Bienes 10, Comboy 6, Lumba 2, Escoto 2, Domingo JS. 2, Runbaoa 0, Harrow 0, Fajarito 0, Cano 0.

Quarter scoring: 21-20, 44-39, 59-61, 79-76.