Bullpups smell blood, shoot for UAAP crown

National University Nazareth School (NUNS) aims to close out its finals series against University of Santo Tomas (UST) and reclaim the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) boys’ basketball crown today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

Emotions are expected to fly in the 12 p.m. encounter as the Bullpups aim to reclaim the glory they last held in Season 82 in 2020.

The Bullpups, who suffered a costly 56-76 loss to the Tiger Cubs at the end of the elimination round that denied them of an outright finals berth, found redemption last Thursday with a 77-70 victory in Game 1.

Now, they are one win away from securing their eighth overall championship in the division.

Coming off last season’s heartbreak against Adamson, Grade 12 standouts Collins Akowe, Macmac Alfanta, and Chad Cartel delivered crucial performances for NUNS in Game 1.

Akowe, the inaugural recipient of the league’s Best Foreign Student-Athlete award, dominated with 24 points and 22 rebounds while Alfanta and Cartel added 14 points each to bolster the Bullpups’ attack.

But NUNS head coach Kevin de Castro remains cautious despite the series-opening win, knowing that UST head coach Manu Iñigo will have his squad prepared in their win-or-go-home battle.

“Perhaps it’s about having the right mindset. Heading into Game 2, it’s zero-zero — the job’s not done yet until we secure that second win and the championship,” de Castro said.