Malian center Moussa Diakite delivered a career-best performance as National University Nazareth School (NUNS) completed an elimination-round sweep to gain an outright University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 junior high school basketball finals berth with a 92–79 victory over University of Santo Tomas (UST) on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Diakite powered the Bullpups with a dominant double-double of 29 points and 27 rebounds — both career highs — along with four blocks and four assists, keeping their bid to reclaim the crown they lost in Season 87 firmly on track.

By completing a 14-game sweep of the eliminations, highlighted by a staggering average winning margin of 24.23 points per game, NUNS triggered a stepladder playoffs for the first time in the division’s young history.

In the other game, Uno Del Monte erupted for 30 points as Adamson University clinched the final spot in the playoffs — while also eliminating defending champion University of the East — with an 85–69 win over also-ran Ateneo de Manila University.

NUNS built a lead as large as 26 points in the opening quarter and carried a 52–33 advantage into halftime. UST, however, inched back in the third period, unleashing a 27–12 run to trim the deficit to 64–60 with 3:32 left.

The Bullpups quickly regained control, responding with a 12–3 counterattack punctuated by a five-point burst from Diakite and a buzzer-beating triple from Ian Manalo to enter the fourth quarter ahead, 76–63.

UST made one last push, with back-to-back triples from Rowie Cabañero and Jacob Datu cutting the lead to 76–69 with 8:11 remaining. But David Sabareza, Mark Arzola, and Diakite combined for a decisive 12–1 run, restoring an 88–70 cushion with 4:19 left to seal the win.