The Nazareth School of National University Bullpups bucked a slow start and came away with a dominating 79-61 victory over the FEU Baby Tamaraws in Game 1 of the UAAP Boys Basketball finals Friday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The Bullpups remain perfect through 15 games and are now one win away from securing their second straight high school title.
The final score may have been lopsided but the Baby Tamaraws had the defending champions on the ropes in the opening minutes. After NU scored the game's first three points, FEU went on a vicious 17-0 blast. The Baby Tamaraws were clicking on all cylinders and took full advantage of the Bullpups who were coming off a month-long break.
"We were kind of lost in the first part of the game. We started slow especially on the defensive end," said NU coach Goldwin Monteverde in Filipino. "Fortunately we picked it up."
Led by Terrence Fortea who spearheaded five players in double-figures with 24 points and five triples, NU showed its championship pedigree in the second and third periods. The Bullpups outscored the Baby Tamaraws, 50-26 in the 20-minute span. They led by as many as 25 points in what turned out to be a blowout.
Monteverde did not point to his team's long layoff as a factor in their slow start but was more concerned about their focus heading into the championship round.
"We kept practicing," the coach said as NU's last play date was February 5. "It wasn't really a factor. It was more of a proper mindset."
Gerry Abadiano tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists while twin towers Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo had identical outputs of 12 points and 14 rebounds.
For the Baby Tamaraws, Cholo Añonuevo tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds. Jorick Bautista and John Rey Pasaol added 10 points apiece. Unfortunately for FEU, top gunner Penny Estacio struggled with just six points on a woeful 1-for-17 shooting clip.
Game 2 is set on Monday as the Baby Tamaraws hope to extend the series while the Bullpups shoot for back-to-back titles for the first time in school history.
THE SCORES
NU 79 - Fortea 24, Abadiano 14, Quiambao 12, Tamayo 12, Tulabut 10, Felicilda 3, Alarcon 2, Torres 2, Enriquez 0
FEU-DILIMAN 61 - Anonuevo 13, Bautista 10, Pasaol 10, Libago 8, Bagunu 7, Estacio 6, Sleat 4, Padrones 3, Saldua 0
QUARTER SCORES: 17-22, 43-36, 67-48, 79-61