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NUNS, DLSZ complete UAAP Boys’ Basketball Final Four cast, eliminate UE, Adamson
With two games remaining in the elimination round, the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Basketball Final Four is officially set.
National University Nazareth School and De La Salle Zobel secured victories on Wednesday afternoon at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City, joining Far Eastern University-Diliman and Ateneo de Manila University in the post-season.
The Junior Archers defeated the Adamson University Baby Falcons, 71-59. On the other hand, the Bullpups claimed an 80-73 win over the University of the East Junior Warriors.
The Bullpups are making their 14th straight Final Four appearance since 2009.
“Proud ako sa mga bata dahil hindi nga naging maganda yung simula namin, pero tinrabaho nila ito para makaabot kami ulit sa Final Four,” said Bullpups head coach Kevin De Castro, who has never missed a Final Four since taking the helm in UAAP Season 85.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Junior Archers return to the Final Four for the first time since Season 79 (2017).
“This means a lot. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, just going into this game, my emotions were all over the place. To be in this situation again na mabigyan kami ng opportunity to make the Final Four does not only mean a lot to me, but it also means a lot to coach Boris [Aldeguer],” said new Junior Archers head coach Gian Nazario.
“Aldeguer was really the architect of this program, and just to be given a chance to handle the team for him and for the program of Zobel, it means a lot na nadala ko ulit yung school sa Final Four,” he added, noting his role as lead deputy to Green Archers coach Topex Robinson.
Earlier, FEU-Diliman and Ateneo had already secured their semifinal spots with wins over University of the Philippines Integrated School (103-52) and University of Santo Tomas (90-83), respectively.
The Bullpups (10-2), the Baby Tamaraws (10-2), and the Blue Eagles (9-3) are still battling for the twice-to-beat advantages.
NUNS played one man short against UE as Mot Matias served a one-game suspension for incurring his second unsportsmanlike foul during their 92-60 win over UPIS last Saturday.
In Matias’ absence, Chad Cartel stepped up with 24 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
“Very happy [and] gusto ko magpasalamat kay Lord kasi binigyan kami ng test and challenge this game. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, siguro tinetest tayo ni Lord dahil wala si Mot, pero nagawan namin ng paraan dahil this team is full of surprises,” de Castro said.
“Kumbaga, wala si Mot, pero hindi namin naramdaman na wala siya dahil ang daming nag-step up. Very proud ako kasi yung captain ball ko in Chad, nag-deliver today,” he added.
Holding a slim 40-36 halftime lead, NUNS intensified its attack in the third quarter with an 11-2 run. Two consecutive inside hits from Cartel and returning Malian center Moussa Diakite pushed the lead to 51-38 with 5:46 left in the frame.
The Bullpups ended the third quarter with a 63-51 cushion and widened the gap in the fourth with a 9-3 run. A four-point spurt from Cartel and a triple from Miekho Natinga built an 18-point lead at 72-54 with under seven minutes remaining.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UE responded with a 15-4 run led by Jamal Diaz, Ethan Aguas, and Sizco Roquid, narrowing the gap to 76-69 with 41 seconds left. But Corian Cabantog and Rob Celiz sealed the win with perfect free throws.
Diakite, returning from a minor injury, contributed 16 points, 18 rebounds, five blocks, two assists, and one steal. Shaun Lucido added 16 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, while Cabantog finished with eight points, six rebounds, and one assist.
Meanwhile, Yusuf Mikailu led DLSZ against Adamson with 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting, 22 rebounds, and six blocks.
Seeking to recover from a sluggish first half, DLSZ regained momentum in the third quarter, scoring 20 points while limiting Adamson to just eight. Key plays included a Mark Borrero layup, a six-point spurt by Maco Dabao, and a Kio Favis layup, turning a 34-36 deficit into a 54-44 lead heading into the final period.
A Mikailu hit, a Dabao layup, and a Jake Alpapara triple extended DLSZ’s lead to 67-52 with 4:35 remaining, effectively putting the game out of reach and improving their record to 7-5.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
DLSZ’s second-half defense was crucial, holding Adamson to just 6-of-33 shooting after a 14-of-34 first-half performance.
Dabao contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, one block, and one assist, while Nino Ferrer had 13 points and one steal. Mark Borrero added eight points, 10 assists, and five rebounds.
UST, UE, and Adamson are tied from fifth to seventh with 4-8 slates.
For UE, Roquid led with 18 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three steals, and one block, while Diaz also had 18 points, plus two rebounds and two assists. Mhico Abellar added 13 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting, and Eoin Braga chipped in seven points, three rebounds, and one block.
Adamson, missing the Final Four for the first time since Season 80 (2018), was led by Jarl Artango with 20 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Then Rookie guard Fran Flores added 12 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.
The Scores:
Third Game:
DLSZ (71) – Mikailu 21, Dabao 15, Ferrer 13, Borrero 8, Favis 6, Atienza 5, Alpapara 3, Arejola 0, Llamas 0, Dimayuga 0, Luna 0.
AdU (59) – Artango 20, Flores 12, Frogoso 6, Jenodia 5, Bautista 4, Matillano 4, Garcia 3, Gomez 2, Babad 2, Alcartado 1.
Quarterscores: 15-19, 34-36, 54-44, 71-59.
Fourth Game:
NUNS (80) – Cartel 24, Lucido 16, Diakite 16, Cabantog 8, Figueroa 7, Celiz 2, Tulabut 2, Bouzina 2, Juan 0, Matias 0, Timbang 0.
UE (73) – Roquid 18, Diaz 18, Abellar 13, Braga 7, Aguas 6, Edoukou 5, Lorenzo 4, Oraa 2, Timbol 0, Bual 0, Delos Reyes 0, Orca 0.
Quarterscores: 22-21, 40-36, 63-51, 80-73.
The post NUNS, DLSZ complete UAAP Boys’ Basketball Final Four cast, eliminate UE, Adamson appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
University of Santo Tomas made history in the UAAP sand court.
The Tiger Sands completed an event sweep in UAAP Season 88, capturing both the high school girls’ and boys’ titles.
In the girls’ division, the duo of Cheng Dadang and Angelica Del Mar denied Adamson University a breakthrough championship with a thrilling 24-22, 12-21, 15-13 victory.
On the boys’ side, JP Apidian and Karl Escobar secured a tournament sweep after defeating National University Nazareth School standouts Kian Tan and Ethan Jadraque, 22-20, 21-18, Sunday at SM Sands by the Bay.
UST had already stamped its dominance in the sand last November, when the men’s pair of Alche Gupiteo and Dom Gabito and the women’s tandem of Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella clinched the collegiate titles.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Kung may dapat pasalamatan dito, yung IPEA, sila Fr. Rodel (Cansancio), Sir Rod (Sambuang), at Ma’am Gigi (Camus). Kung ano yung binigay ko sa kanila, binibigay nila sa amin,” said Tiger Sands head coach John Paul Doloiras. “Hindi lang sila nakikita pero yung support system nandun talaga.
“Sobrang mahal ko rin yung mga bata at mas madami yung oras ko para sa kanila kaysa para sa pamilya ko. Ngayon, babawi na ako sa pamilya ko. Kailangan mo talagang ibigay yung lahat. Yun yung factors kaya nananalo kami ngayon,” he continued, as this is the first time a school won all four divisions of the event.
Using their court smarts, Dadang and Del Mar overcame a fierce fightback from the Baby Falcons’ Meagan Pineda and Ella Gonzalvo, who erased a five-point deficit in the third set to threaten a comeback.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Adamson rallied from a 1-6 hole to tie the deciding frame at 11-all. But Dadang and Del Mar leaned on their experience and composure in crunch time to deliver UST its second girls’ title since beach volleyball became an official UAAP event in Season 86 (2024).
The Tiger Sands girls’ team completed a perfect nine-match sweep.
“Ngayon, talagang pinakita nila yung puso ng pagiging champion. Dun sa latter part, talagang nahirapan kami. Pinagtrabahuan talaga ng players. Kahit yung favor nasa kalaban, tiyinaga nila, inisa-isa nila hanggang sa nakuha nila yung panalo,” Doloiras said.
Dadang, who served as the third player when Progella and Cameron Grace Villaluz steered UST to the crown two years ago, was named Season 88 MVP.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Para po sa akin, maganda yung naging experience last year kasi hindi pa kami buo noon. Nahirapan kami last year at mas naging composed at tumatag yung partnership namin,” said the 17-year-old native of Cagayan de Oro.
In the boys’ division, Karl Escobar — who began the tournament as UST’s third player — also took home MVP honors.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Naka-dorm talaga ako sa beach volleyball. May mga player kami na pang-beach volleyball pero hindi ko inexpect na mala-lineup ako,” said the 18-year-old spiker, who is also part of the Junior Golden Spikers. “I just did my best to prove that I deserve that spot. Nag-mindset ako kung ano yung tinrabaho ko from the day na pinili ako.
“Ang saya sa feeling na nakabawi ako dito sa beach volleyball. Sobrang gaan sa loob na nakabawi ako,” he added, referring to UST’s inability to defend its indoor crown last December.
It was still the best finish for Adamson’s Baby Falcons, who also placed second to the Tiger Sands when high school beach volleyball was still a demonstration sport.
Adamson earlier dethroned National University Nazareth School in the Final Four, as Pineda and Gonzalvo repeated over Faith Mangyao and Julia Candelario, 21-12, 21-14.
Mangyao and Candelario salvaged third place after defeating Far Eastern University-Diliman duo Franz Premaylon and Alexa Amana, 21-18, 21-14.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UST, meanwhile, swept FEU-D, 21-5, 21-15, in the other semifinal matchup.
In the boys’ division, the University of the East secured the bronze medal after Mharl Dullete and Emman Marcelino edged Adamson’s Brice Malinao and JM Bernabe, 17-21, 24-22, 15-13.
It marked the Recto-based school’s best finish in beach volleyball since Abigail Escandor and Gigi Alanguilan captured silver in UAAP Season 72 (2008).
In the Final Four, NUNS defeated UE, 21-15, 21-13, while UST disposed of Adamson, 21-13, 21-15.
Prince Jimenez of UP Integrated School was named the boys’ Rookie of the Year. – TJ
The post UST makes history with first-ever UAAP Beach Volleyball event sweep appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
By: Nicole Parallag
Xin Salanatin emerged as the hero for defending champion University of Santo Tomas, scoring a dramatic 90th-minute winner to complete a 2–1 comeback over last season’s final foil Far Eastern University-Diliman and keep the Junior Golden Booters unbeaten in the UAAP Season 88 High School Boys’ Football Tournament, Wednesday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
The Junior Golden Booters mirrored the heroics of their collegiate counterparts, overturning an early Baby Tamaraws lead just like the senior squad had done in last Sunday’s Final Four clash.
Joshua Balliner had earlier equalized in the 75th minute, setting the stage for Salanatin to deliver the decisive blow at the death.
Balliner and Salanatin’s strikes erased Jimuel Panganiban’s 18th-minute opener, leaving FEU-D to rue missed opportunities from Leowell Fabela and Jacob Keleghan.
“Nung first half, medyo slow yung start namin,” said UST assistant coach David Basa. “May binago lang kami sa formation, pero prinepare naman namin earlier, pero hindi lang nag-work agad, so nag-adjust kami sa second half. Then, yung subs, nung pumasok, nagbigay sila ng energy sa team. Yung subs nagbigay ng dalawang goals.
“Sa amin lang talaga makapuwesto kami sa table as top. Yun ang main focus ng team. Siguro lang, one factor din yung college nung Sunday, then kami ngayon, tas magtutuos na naman sila ng Friday. Puro FEU kami. Blessing din yung nakuha namin, yung two wins,” he added.
Meanwhile, PAREF Southridge opened the matchday by trouncing Claret School of Quezon City 2-0 to secure its first win of the season, while De La Salle Zobel narrowly defeated Adamson University 1-0 afterward for the Junior Green Booters’ second straight win.
With the results, the Junior Golden Booters stayed at the top of the table with 10 points while the Baby Tamaraws and the Junior Green Booters are knotted at nine points apiece with FEU-D ahead by a two-goal cushion.
The Blue Eagles (6), Southridge (4), the Red Roosters (3), and the Baby Falcons (2) are behind.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Francis Poticano starred for the Admirals, providing an assist and scoring a goal within two minutes in the second half to secure the win.
“He’s one of the boys to look out for in this season. He really stepped up in this game,” said Southridge coach Sam Bonney. “We are depending on him to give us something special this season because he proved himself last season. But the thing is, I think he also felt a little bit more pressure, so that’s why his game is not that consistent. I believe in him, and I know he would definitely step up his game.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the other hand, Geoffrey Marqueses struck in the 17th minute to give the Junior Green Booters an early lead, while goalkeeper Jacob Salavante preserved the clean sheet with key saves in the second half.
“For Geoffrey, I think for me, isa siya sa mga reliable na players namin mag-create ng goal dahil siya yung nag-create ng goal against Ateneo,” said La Salle coach Arvin Soliman. “For me, isa siya sa very dangerous in possession lalo na pag bibigyan mo (siya) ng space.
“We got the three points pero marami pa kami kailangang i-improve, especially sa second half na halos Adamson yung nag ko-kontrol ng bola. Again, we met the objective, so at least kahit papano nakuha namin tong araw na to,” Soliman added.
The post Xin Salanatin delivers heroics vs FEU-D to keep UST undefeated in UAAP Boys Football appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
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