Steve Enriquez and Terrence Fortea showed the way for the Nazareth School-National University Bullpups as they routed the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons, 113-76, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
Their big games allowed the Bullpups to post their 13th straight win in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) junior basketball tournament.
The Bullpups, with Enriquez and Fortea making 17 points apiece, are now a win away from a 14-game sweep of the elimination round, and an outright finals berth.
They have already secured the top two seeding with the Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws.
Earlier, the Adamson Baby Falcons stayed in contention for the last two Final Four slots with their 124-68 demolition of the University of the East Junior Warriors.
John Erolon banged in 27 points for the Baby Falcons, who hiked their win-loss slate to 7-6.
Enriquez, who also had five rebounds, sank two charities in the last 1:44 handed the Bullpups a 109-74 spread.
Fortea, one of the team’s top gunners, last struck in the final 8:33 of the game, giving the Bullpups their biggest edge at 31, 90-59, and he was subbed afterwards.
Gerry Abadiano delivered 12 points for the Bullpups, and he left the court in the third period, moments after he assisted Reyland Torres to a basket, 79-56.
The Bullpups started moving away in the second period, with Nathaniel Tulabut and Joachim Laure leading a 13-0 blast, which moved them away from a slim 27-26 edge.
Kenji Duremdes capped the run with a triple, and the Bullpups took a 39-26 edge in the last 6:14 of the quarter.