Game Today
(The Arena in San Juan)
4 p.m NU vs Ateneo (Game 1)
MOMENTUM will be on the side of the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups.
This is what’s going for them when they meet a well-rested Ateneo Blue Eaglets in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series in the in the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
“In a way, mahirap matigil ito. Sila rin naman, they [Ateneo] did something about it,” said Bullpups’ coach Goldwin Monteverde.
The twice-to-beat Bullpups reached the finals after Terrence Fortea took charge in the first three quarters and led them to a 91-72 smothering of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs last Tuesday in their stepladder semifinal playoff.
Monteverde believes that they will be up against a tall and talented Blue Eaglets’ side, which has three talented cagers to watch out for—SJ Belangel wreaking havoc with his scoring, Sean Ildefonso making things happen with his defense and Kai Sotto protecting the shaded lanes.
“They are definitely taller than us. Definitely, we have to be with our hearts out there on Friday,” added Monteverde.
The 16-year-old Fortea tallied 16 points in the three quarters he played in before he was pulled out in the last period.
The Blue Eaglets are coming off a long layoff after finishing the elimination round with a 14-game sweep.
They finished the eliminations unbeaten after they pulled off 78-68 triumph over the Bullpups.