MANILA -- The budding rivalry between Ateneo and the Nazareth School of National University (NSNU) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) juniors basketball tournament is set for another chapter as they will once again collide in the finals.
The Blue Eaglets and the Bullpups barged their way back to the last dance after ousting their respective semifinal foes at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City on Friday.
NSNU opted not to make use of its twice-to-beat advantage and rode on a hot start en route to repulsing Adamson, 94-72, in the first Final Four match-up.
Terrence Fortea dropped 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal off the bench for the Bullpups, the top seeds entering the playoffs.
Didat Hanapi fired 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting alongside two boards and one swipe for the Baby Falcons, who were limited to just 32.9 percent shooting and committed 25 turnovers the entire game.
In the other semifinal round, Ateneo survived a late push from FEU-FERN to take a 90-82 win.
The Blue Eaglets were on the verge of pulling off their own rout against the Baby Tamaraws after stifling them in the second quarter and eventually opening a 21-point lead.
FEU-FERN, however, threatened a comeback, cutting the lead down to seven, 87-80, and even had a chance to trim it further with 35.3 seconds left.
The last hurrah eventually lost steam as Ron Tolentino missed two crucial free throws, paving the way for Ateneo to hold on.
Kai Sotto, the newly-named Most Valuable Player of the season, put up 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block, while freshman Ian Espinosa added 19 points, three rebounds, four assists, and two steals for Ateneo, which like NSNU, holds a twice-to-beat advantage for being the second seed.
Tolentino led FEU-FERN with 19 points, 14 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.
Game 1 of the best-of-three finals between the Bullpups and the Blue Eaglets is set for Monday back at the said venue.
The Scores:
First Game
NU 94: Fortea 30, Gonzales 13, Abadiano 11, Quiambao 8, Felicilda 7, Torres 6, Tamayo 4, Dayrit 3, Alarcon 3, Mailim 3, Enriquez 2, Vinoya 2, Buensalida 1, Javillonar 1, Abiera 0, Songcuya 0
Adamson 72: Hanapi 19, Manlapaz 12. Guarino 11, An. Doria 8, Ad. Doria 7, Engbino 7, Sabandal 7, Capulong 1, Prodigo 0, Barcelona 0, Dominguez 0
Quarterscores: 30-18, 54-35, 76-56, 94-72.
Second Game
Ateneo 90: Sotto 22, Espinosa 19, Jaymalin 17, Chiu 11, David 7, Fetalvero 6, Padrigao 4, Diaz 4, de Ayre 0, Coo 0, Lechoncito 0.
FEU-DILIMAN 82: Tolentino 19, Abarrientos 17, Torres 14, Alforque 12, J. Bautista 7, Sajonia 6, Barasi 4, Anonuevo 3, Ona 0, Armendez 0.
Quarterscores: 18-18, 39-29, 66-52, 90-82 (PNA)
