HOLD the celebrations. There is still another game to play.
Top scorer Miguel Oczon said this after the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups denied the Ateneo Blue Eaglets a 16-game sweep and an outright 19th title in their 25th finals appearance on Tuesday at the Arena in San Juan.
“I felt good. Pero sabi ni coach, may isa pang game. Kaya no time to celebrate,” said Oczon after scoring 17 points in Game 2 of NU’s best-of-three finals’ series with Ateneo in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament.
Oczon stole off SJ Belangel as time ran out, sending the Bullpups to a 68-67 win over the Blue Eaglets in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals series.
This tied the finals series at 1-all, with Game 3 set at 4 p.m. on Friday.
The Bullpups hung on until the end, getting a boost from Michael Malonzo’s undergoal stab in the 55 seconds.
The win shifted the momentum into the Bullpups’ favor in their bid for their seventh crown since they last won it via a 16-game sweep back 2014.
“Compared to Game 1, the team had better composure. Nakailang lead change. Pero nag-stick sila sa game plan. Ang defense namin, gumanda towards the end,” said Bullpups’ coach Goldwin Monteverde. Peter Atencio
