Coming off a one month break, National University-Nazareth School did not miss a beat as it crushed Far Eastern University-Diliman, 79-61, to inch closer to sweeping the UAAP Season 82 Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Friday at The Arena in San Juan City.
Protecting a slim seven-point lead, the Bullpups outscored the Baby Tamaraws in the third quarter, 24-12, to rip the game wide open entering the payoff period, 67-48.
Gerry Abadiano’s deuce at the 7:18 mark of the fourth frame gave NU its biggest lead of the game at 25, 76-51.
“We started slow sa defensive end, buti na lang pagdating ng second quarter nakab0ounce back yung mga bata,” said NU coach Goldwin Monteverde.
But the Bullpups faced some adversity early in the game, needing to buck a slow start, falling behind by 14 at the start, 17-3, before Terrence Fortea led the fightback to enter halftime ahead, 43-36.
Fortea topscored for NU with 24 points on 50 percent shooting while Abadiano backstopped him with 14 markers, seven rebounds, and four assists.
“As a veteran sa team, nakita ko yung first group namin, hindi maayos, kaya ang mindset ko pagpasok ay iangat talaga yung team,” said Fortea.
Twin towers Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo provided identical numbers of 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Nathaniel Tulabut chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.
Chiolo Anonuevo paced the Baby Tamaraws with 13 points on 4-of-16 shooting, 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three blocks.
The scores:
NU-NS 79 – Fortea 24, Abadiano 14, Quiambao 12, Tamayo 12, Tulabut 10, Felicilda 3, Alarcon 2, Torres 2, Enriquez 0.
FEU-D 61 – Anonuevo 13, Bautista 10, Pasaol 10, Libago 8, Bagunu 7, Estacio 6, Sleat 4, Padrones 3, Saldua 0.
Quarters: 17-22, 43-36, 67-48, 79-61.
