Eaglets cap UAAP ‘double,’ nip Bullpups

MANILA, Philippines — The Ateneo Blue Eaglets lost the sweep but found the feat sweeter in a gut-wrenching finish, getting high on Kai Sotto and drawing the heart from SJ Belangel.

The Eaglets beat the surprisingly tough National U Bullpups, 63-58, yesterday to seal the UAAP Season 80 juniors basketball crown where they went 14-0 in the elims and four minutes from absorbing a disastrous finish  for their first championship since 2015.

The 7-2 Sotto, saddled by early fouls, combined with senior player Belangel in a decisive fightback from six points down, 48-54, in the last four minutes in one of the toughest title duels in league history.

Sotto, who incurred his fourth foul early in the fourth, tipped in seven points and Belangel had five in a fiery 15-4 Ateneo closing run to overhaul a 54-48 deficit in the last 4:04 and annex their 19th overall crown.

The victory also completed a season double for the school after the Blue Eagles’ win over rival La Salle in the seniors final.

“Kai told me he’ll bounce back. We talked it out with SJ and they said ‘we’re going to win this game’. And they delivered,” said ADMU coach Joe Silva.

Sotto shattered the 58-all count on a putback with 25.3 seconds left in the contest that was close throughout in a virtual repeat of NU’s thrilling 70-67 escape in Game Two. The Eaglets then cashed in on the Bullpups’ misses by going three-of-four from the line at endgame to pound out the five-point triumph.

Sotto, who posted a triple double highlighted by 11 blocks in Ateneo’s 86-70 romp in Game One, finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and three blocks and went on to bag the Finals MVP honors.

Belangel also shone with 16 points and eight rebounds while Dave Ildefonso added 13 markers.

“Actually, we never thought of the sweep. All we wanted to do was to win the championship whether or not we swept or we had to do it the hard way. All our main focus and direction was to win the championship,” added Silva, whose squad won 15 straight since the elims before NU dealt them a Game Two loss.

Sotto scored on crucial tips and putbacks while Belangel drained two pressure-packed charities to give the Eaglets a four-point cushion, 62-58, with 9.8 seconds left, triggering a deafening roar from the crowd.

Ildefonso’s split sealed it for the Blue Eaglets, who spilled onto the court in frenzied celebration after the buzzer sounded, some visibly in tears.

A 16-2 run by Ateneo bridging the first two quarters gave it an early 20-8 lead but Terrence Fortea, RJ Minerva and Matthew Manalang rallied NU in the middle quarters leading to a back-and-forth third period.

The Bullpups even claimed the lead, 54-48 at the 4:02 mark of the fourth behind Fortea and Rhayyan Amsali but Sotto, who returned halfway in the period, turned the tide for the Eaglets.

Fortea had 14 points, including five straight points in a 7-0 blast that put the Bullpups ahead, 54-48, with four minutes to play.

The scores:

Ateneo 63 – Sotto 19, Belangel 16, Ildefonso 13, Credo 4, Manuel 4, Chiu 4, David 3, Escalona 0, Jaymalin 0, Santos 0.

NU 58 – Fortea 14, Minerva 13, Manalang 8, Oczon 7, Amsali 6, Javillonar 5, Pangilinan 3, Malonzo 2, Coyoca 0.

Quarterscores: 15-6; 28-23; 44-43; 63-58.