RELIVING memories of season 77, the Ateneo Blue Eaglets repeated over the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups in a similar manner to claim the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines Junior Basketball crown yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.
Big man and finals MVP Kai Sotto and SJ Belangel came up with big plays at endgame, paving the way for the Blue Eaglets’ 63-58 beating of the Bullpups in Game 3 of their best-of-three finals series.
This will the second time since 2014 that the Blue Eaglets have won a crown at the Bullpups’ expense, and after both team went the distance again.
With the count tied at 58-all, Sotto grabbed a rebound off Enrico Manuel’s miss, and his putback put the Blue Eaglets ahead, 60-58.
The Bullpups, ahead by six in the last period, had a chance to tie the match for the last time. But Miguel Oczon bungled an attempt, and Sotto grabbed the rebound.
In the next play, he Blue Eaglets gained a four-point edge after Belangel converted two charities off Rhayyan Amsali’s foul with 9.8 ticks left, 62-58.
The seven-foot-one Sotto finished the game with 19 points and 13 rebounds, including seven points in the final period.
“I just told the boys to stay composed. Yun din ang lamang ng NU sa amin because they know how to play a finals series. So I told them to stay composed and we’ll fight back,” said Blue Eaglets coach Joe Silva.
Belangel shot 16 points, while Sean Ildefonso hit 13 for the Blue Eaglets.
The Bullpups, getting a game-high 17 points from Terrence Fortea, stayed close, 48-45, at the start of the fourth period.
After the Bullpups took the lead off Amsali’s layup, Ateneo fought their way to a 54-all deadlock off Sotto’s three-point play with 3:30 left in the fourth.
RJ Minerva made 13 while Matthew Manalang added eight for the Bullpups. Manalang’s two treys in in the last 3:04 allowed them to stay within range, 29-32, and after Ateneo took a nine-point edge, 32-23.
The Blue Eaglets, drew nine points from Belangel, with his drive in the closing minutes of the first period touching off a 9-0 run.
Minerva drilled in nine points in the first half, with his putback in the last 7:40 signaling the Bullpups’ counterattack in the second period.
Oczon banged in four points before halftime, with his jumpers in the remaining 3:06 of the second canto allowing the Bullpups to stay within range, 21-24.
The Blue Eaglets, who were denied a 16-game sweep, enjoyed their 19th title in 25th finals appearances.
In Game 1, Sotto had a triple-double effort of 22 points, 16 rebounds and 11 blocks, on top of an assist that he showed during Ateneo’s 86-70 win over NU in Game 1.
The Bullpups forced the winner-take-all game following Game 2’s 70-67 victory, foiling the Blue Eaglets’ quest for perfection.
The 7-1 Sotto came up with a monster game, hitting 22 points, pulling down 16 rebounds and 11 blocks for the Blue Eaglets in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series.
