San Juan: Reigning Most Valuable Player Collins Akowe scored 27 points as National University Nazareth School (NUNS) beat University of the East, 78-77, in the UAAP Season 87 boys' basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Thursday. Akowe's two free throws gave the Bullpups a 78-70 lead with 1:32 left to play, but the Junior Warriors threatened at 77-78 behind back-to-back triples from Xedric Diaz and Kristopher Lagat, 29 seconds to go.
According to Philippines News Agency, Akowe, who also had 24 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, missed a jumper in the ensuing play while UE also failed to score in the dying seconds, allowing NUNS to secure its sixth straight win. For head coach Kevin de Castro, the close win is a wake-up call. "This is what I've been saying from the start that we don't have to relax because we haven't proven anything yet. At least now, we have tested that we are not really the dominating team that people say," he said. "At least, we have already experienced this in the first round. It is a wake-up call for us... we will improve our defense, especially in our next game as the defending champion," de Castro added.
Miguel Palanca contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, Mac Alfanta had 11 points while Chad Cartel and Jid Locsin chipped in nine and eight points, respectively for NUNS, which posted its biggest lead at 48-31. Lagat led UE with 17 points and six rebounds followed by Nicholas Lorenzo with 15 points, all from the three-point line. Diaz added 14 points, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals, while Cyrehl Alejandro had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Junior Warriors, who took their third consecutive loss for a 2-4 record at solo sixth.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas defeated Ateneo de Manila University, 69-59. Wacky Ludovice finished with 19 points and three steals for the Tiger Cubs, who trailed 14-19 in the first quarter before taking the lead, 37-36, at halftime. Koji Buenaflor added 18 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, while Racine Kane had 13 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. "We're not happy with the way we played. Fortunately, at crunch time we were able to execute because when the other quarters did their own thing, what they were doing was not in the system because they took the game lightly so it backfired on us. It's good that the key players responded well when it was crucial," UST head coach Manu I±igo said.
In the other game, Cabs Cabonilas had 17 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three steals in leading Far Eastern University-Diliman to a 76-55 victory over De La Salle-Zobel. FEU and UST are tied for second with identical 5-1 records.