The Nazareth School-National University Bullpups need to play a more composed game in Game 2 of the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball finals.
Staying consistent, calm and composed will help the Bullpups clinch their seventh crown in 45 years.
“Magandang experience ito (Game 1) for the team in knowing what to do and preparing for the championship,” said Bullpups’ coach Goldwin Monteverde.
The Bullpups meet the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eaglets today at 3 p.m. in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
Last Monday, the two big men of the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups, Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao, outworked the Ateneo Blue Eaglets’ twin towers Kai Sotto and Geo Chiu for a 70-58 NU win.
The 6’7” Tamayo and the 6’6” Quiambao made their presence felt in the final period to help lift the Bullpups, creating openings for top gunners Terrence Fortea and Cyril Gonzales to score in the last three minutes.
On the other hand, the Blue Eaglets will make an effort to bounce back and force a Game 3.
“You can see this at the number of times they got the rebound and the 50-50 balls. We played good defense. But we were not able to close it out with our defensive rebounds,” said Ateneo coach Regie Varilla.
Meanwhile, there are six individual players chosen for the Mythical Team in Season 81.
Sotto, the season MVP, leads the cast, joined by Mark Nonoy of University of Sto. Tomas. Then, there’s Ateneo cager Forthsky Padrigao and Nonoy’s teammate Bismarck Lina, together with Far Eastern University-Diliman playmaker RJ Abarrientos and Adamson High-School all-around threat Joem Sabandal.
Padrigao placed third in terms of statistical points (SPs), despite playing just eight games in the elimination round due to appendicitis.
Nazareth School of National University skipper Gerry Abadiano is also in the list of candidates for Mythical Five.”‹