NU wins UAAP juniors title
National University was not to be denied.
After losing to La Salle-Zobel in its first attempt to nail the championship last Friday, the Bullpups finally put some bark into their game and routed the Archers, 96-75, at The Arena in San Juan they showed the spunk that won them 14 straight games in the eliminations.
The lopsided score earned the Bullpups their third UAAP juniors basketball title in five years, as La SalleZobel failed to bring the series to a fourth and deciding game.
Winderlich Coyoca led NU with 20 points but he was helped by a strong frontline headed by Justine Baltazar who had 18 points, and Karl Penano, who had 16. Two other Bullpups contributed double figures with John Lloyd Clemente chipping 15 and Rhayyan Amsali with 11.
The 6-foot-7 Baltazar, however, took home the Finals MVP award after adding 14 rebounds, four assists and three blocks to his production – numbers which many say will make him a sought after recruit by UAAP schools which has abandoned the residency requirement of two years for transferees.
For the series, Baltazar averaged 16.6 points, 20.3 rebounds and three blocks.
Celebration began for the Bullpups as early as the third quarter when they led 73-40 and coasted till the end as the Archers, who boasts of the tournament’s MVP awardee Aljun Melecio, failed to produce the kind of game that upset the Bulldogs in the first game of their title series.
Melecio led all scorers with 22 points.
NU Coach Jeff Napa paid tribute to the team’s patience for the win.
“Nagsend ng strong message ang team at pinakita nila na they deserve to be the champions,” Napa said. “All throughout, hindi kami nagmadali, naging pasensyoso kami, bumalik kami kung san kami malakas at kung ano kami.”
Napa said failing to win the title in the second game that saw their unbeaten streak broken, was a bit disappointing, but winning the title eventually more than made up for it.
“Siyempre may panghihinayang pero ang importante naman ay ang championship,” he added.
Coyoca somehow triggered the rout with a buzzer-beater in the second quarter, igniting a run of baskets that transformed a 45-37 lead to 73-40 midway through the third period.
Coyoca also drained two more three pointers in that killer stretch.
Coyoca 20, Baltazar 18, Penano 16, Clemente 15, Amsali 11, Callejo 6, Atienza 5, Fortea 3, Jugar 2, Manalang 0, Sarip 0, Beldua 0, Tolentino 0, Careng 0, Mosqueda 0.
Melecio 22, Sobrevega 20, Sario 14, Paraiso 8, Romero 6, Cabarrus 3, Fortuna 2, Tongco 0, Mariano 0, Salafranca 0.
Quarters: 22-9; 48-73; 79-52; 96-75.