Bullpups halt Eaglets, force best-of-3 duel

Game Tuesday (Filoil Arena)

2 p.m. – AdMU vs NU

MANILA, Philippines - National University roared mightily in the third period to build double-digit spreads then scrambled at the finish to snap Ateneo’s unbeaten run, 76-72, yesterday and reduce their title duel to a best-of-three affair in the UAAP Season 77 juniors basketball at The Arena in San Juan.

The Bullpups raced to a 14-point spread in the pivotal third but had to weather the Eaglets’ furious uprising behind Mark Dyke, John Clemente, Philip Manalang and Mark Ferreras, who hit clutch baskets to seal the huge win in the series opener.

“Credit to the boys, they executed our game plan and showed confidence in their game,” said NU coach Jeff Napa, whose wards’ victory thus kept NU’s quest for a rare golden treble in basketball after its men’s and women’s teams ruled their respective sides last year.

NU and AdMU will dispute the pivotal one-game lead in the titular series on Tuesday, also at the San Juan venue.

Dyke provided a solid presence underneath, banging in 20 points while grabbing 17 rebounds and blocking three shots.

“Mark is Mark, his numbers are already a given. But what’s important for the other guys to step up and today they did that. It was a total team effort,” said Napa.

Dyke scored on a post move then either blocked or changed Ateneo’s shots underneath and collared the defensive board in the last five minutes to help the Bullpups restore a 72-64 lead after losing a double-digit margin.

Manalang (14), Clemente (17) and Ferreras (six) delivered the coup de grace for NU as they combined for the Bullpups’ last 12 points.

Soon-to-be-named MVP Mike Nieto fired a game-high 25 markers spiked by six triples, but struggled a bit in the payoff period. His twin brother Matthew added 19 and Jolo Mendoza contributed 14.

The scores:

NU 76 – Dyke 20, Clemente 17, Manalang 14, Sta.  Ana 6, Ferreras 6, Atienza 5, Baltazar 3, Mina 3, Saquian 2, Calma 0, De Guzman 0, Camaso 0, Callejo 0.

AdMU 72 – Mi. Nieto 25, Ma. Nieto 19, Mendoza 14, Mamuyac 5, Andrada 5, Joson 4, Ildefonso 0, Ramos 0, Hassan 0, Salandaan 0, Eustaquiao 0.

Quarterscores: 19-19, 36-31, 56-49, 76-72.