Bullpups show who they are in Game 1

National U-Nazareth School cranked it up in the second half to romp off with a 70-58 disposal of Ateneo and move on the cusp of dethroning the Blue Eaglets as UAAP Season 81 juniors’ basketball champion yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Center.

Shaking off a jittery start, the Bullpups unleashed a 28-15 bomb to seize control and kept their foot on the pedal to clear the way for the emphatic triumph in the opener of the best-ofthree series.

“Walang composure nung first half, para kaming nagmamadali sa execution. Siguro sobrang excited (being in the finals) pero nakabawi naman nung second half, pinakita namin ano talaga yung Bullpups,” said NU coach Goldwin Monteverde.

Trailing by five after the first 20 minutes, the Bullpups turned things around in the third canto, with Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo and Terrence Fortea presiding over a searing assault that put them in the drivers’ seat, 53-45.

Ateneo threatened to within five (55-60) in the fourth but Cyril Gonzales, Fortea, Quiambao and Gerry Abadiano stepped forward and came through with the insurance plays.

Tamayo (15 points and 12 rebounds) and Quiambao (14 markers, eight boards) not only led the offense but also anchored NU’s defense, especially on 7-foot-1 Kai Sotto, who coughed up only two points in the final canto off a pair of split freethrows at that.

Sotto finished with 16-15 plus five shot blocks as frontline partner Geo Chiu made 12-11.