Bullpups, Eaglets start showdown for junior crown

MANILA, Philippines — Former champ National U and reigning titlist Ateneo seek to get the head start as they engage in an explosive championship showdown in the UAAP Season 81 juniors’ basketball tourney today at the Filoil Flying V Center.

The top-seeded Bullpups, out to make it back to the top after settling for runner-up honors the past two seasons, and the No. 2 Blue Eaglets, eyeing back-to-back,  clash at 3 p.m. in the opener of the race-to-two series.

“Gusto naming bumawi talaga kasi two straight losses na sa finals eh. Parang ngayon sobrang motivated talaga kami,” said NU star Terrence Fortea, who sizzled with 30 points spiked by seven tripes in the Bullpups’ disposal of No. 4 Adamson in Sunday’s Final Four.

NU, which is on its eighth straight finals stint, last went all the way the crown in 2016. They yielded the throne to FEU in two games the following year then  fell short of their next title shot with a 1-2 decision to Ateneo in 2018.