Terrence Fortea struck with a season-high 30 points to tow the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups to a 94-72 swamping of the Adamson Baby Falcons and into their eighth straight finals appearance yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
Fortea, providing leadership from start to finish, scored his biggest output since the elimination round as the Bullpups hurdled their Final Four assignment with ease in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball Tournament.
Drawing 13 and 11 points from Cyril Gonzales and Gerry Abadiano, respectively, the Bullpups went on to reach the best-of-three finals for an eighth consecutive time since 2010.
“We really prepared well for the game. We executed well,” said Bullpups’ coach Goldwin Monteverde on their campaign.
The Bullpups found themselves in a finals’ clash with the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eaglets for a second straight season.
Led by Kai Sotto, who recovered from a sprain in the first period, the Eaglets won over the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws, 90-82, to reach the finals with the Bullpups for a second straight year as well.
“Masayang masaya kami, with only five guys coming back from our championship team. Masaya, that we will be able to defend the crown with this young group of talents,” said coach Regie Varilla of the Blue Eaglets, who got 22 points and eight rebounds for the 7’1” Sotto.
Ateneo also got double-digit outputs from four teammates, with Ian Espinosa, who took over Forthsky Padrigao after he went down on cramps, making 19. Jaymalin had 15 and Geo Chiu, who dominated the boards with 11 rebounds after replacing Sotto for most of the first half, scored 11.
They broke free from a 18-all deadlock at the start of the second period, with JR Jaymalin knocking in two of three triples in the last 8:44 to help Ateneo take command with a 30-18 edge.
Game 1 is slated at 3 p.m. this Monday.
With the Bullpups limiting the Baby Falcons to 18 points in the first period, Reyland Torres scored thrice in the opening minutes of the game before Fortea took over with his drive, triple and three charities.
Their efforts allowed the Bullpups to move away with an 18-5 spread in the last 4:52.
Ernest Felicilda then knocked in seven points, with his split charity in the remaining 6:43 handing the Bullpups a 25-point, 82-57 advantage.
The scores:
First game
NU 94 —Fortea 30, Gonzales 13, Abadiano 11, Quiambao 8, Felicilda 7, Torres 6, Tamayo 4, Dayrit 3, Alarcon 3, Mailim 3, Enriquez 2, Vinoya 2, Buensalida 1, Javillonar 1, Abiera 0, Songcuya 0.
ADAMSON 72—Hanapi 19, Manlapaz 12. Guarino 11, An. Doria 8, Ad. Doria 7, Engbino 7, Sabandal 7, Capulong 1, Prodigo 0, Barcelona 0, Dominguez 0. Quarters: 30-18, 54-35, 76-56, 94-72.
Second game
ATENEO 90—Sotto 22, Espinosa 19, Jaymalin 17, Chiu 11, David 7, Fetalvero 6, Padrigao 4, Diaz 4, De Ayre 0, Coo 0, Lechoncito 0.
FEU-DILIMAN 82—Tolentino 19, Abarrientos 17, Torres 14, Alforque 12, J. Bautista 7, Sajonia 6, Barasi 4, Anonuevo 3, Ona 0, Armendez 0.
Quarters: 18-18, 39-29, 66-52, 90-82.