NU Bullpups go for UAAP crown vs Eaglets

MANILA, Philippines — National U-Nazareth School seeks to cash in on the golden opportunity to dethrone Ateneo as UAAP Season 81 juniors’ basketball champs by finishing off the embattled Blue Eaglets today in Game Two at the Filoil Flying V Center.

The streaking Bullpups closed in on their first title since 2016 with a masterful 70-58 triumph in Monday’s opener and have no intention of letting this chance slip away in the 3 p.m. matchup.

“We just have to do our best and do it consistently,” said NU coach Goldwin Monteverde, looking to strike gold on his second season with the school.

The top-seeded Bullpups enjoy a 3-0 edge head to head against the Ateneans in this tournament but won’t allow themselves to fall into a false sense of security going to the second match of the championship series.

“Babawi sila sa Game Two kaya dapat naming higitan pa yung mga ginawa namin nung Game One.” big man Kevin Quiambao said.

Meanwhile, the UAAP makes an unprecedented move as it named six players to the Mythical Team.

Sotto heads this list alongside Santo Tomas’ Mark Nonoy and Bismarck Lina, Ateneo teammate Forthsky Padrigao, Far Eastern Diliman’s RJ Abarrientos, and Adamson’s Joem Sabandal.

The UAAP board decided to name Padrigao, who placed third in statistical points despite playing only eight games in the elims due to appendicitis, and Sabandal, who finished fifth in the MVP race, as the next best guards after SPs second placer Nonoy. Quiambao, who logged 14 points and 13 rebounds in the opener, joined hands with Carl Tamayo (15-12) in making Ateneo star Kai Sotto bleed for 16 markers, holding the 7-footer to just two in the final period to help NU score the victory.