Blue Eaglets swoop down on Bullpups, take UAAP Juniors hoops title

Video by Bong Lozada/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—It’s a wrap.

Dropping only a single game the whole season, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eaglets took the UAAP Juniors Basketball title away from defending champions National University Bullpups, 90-73, Friday afternoon at Arena in San Juan.

Ateneo’s only hiccup in the season was their Game One loss to the Bullpups but they steadied the turbulence to cap their near-perfect season.

After leading by as much as 18 at the end of the first half, the Blue Eaglets were suddenly on the receiving end of a Bullpup sucker punch as their lead dwindled to as low as five, 74-69, with 5:16 remaining in the fourth.

Daniel Atienza knocked down a long three-pointer from the top of the key to cut the Ateneo lead to single-digits, 74-65, then John Clemente followed it up with two transition layups to make it 74-69.

It would be Clemente’s doing, however, that sparked the Blue Eaglets’ title-winning run.

Clemente hit Ateneo swingman Matt Nieto on a fastbreak and was sanctioned with an unsportsmanlike foul.

Nieto hit four free throws to make it 80-69 then Finals MVP Jolo Mendoza hit a three from the right wing which Big Mike Nieto followed up with a layup on the break to give Ateneo a 16-point lead, 85-69, with 3:01 remaining.

Blue Eaglets head coach Joe Silva said his win was “for the glory of God” and he dedicated the title to his mother who passed away in 2014 just before their championship series with NU.

“I want to thank the Lord and my mom for the guidance. I’m offering this championship to her,” Silva said.

Mendoza would quell any probable run from the Bullpups when he swished home a jumper from the top of the key making it 87-73 with 1:24 remaining.

Silva said that Mendoza’s superb play was the proof that he would one day become “the future of Philippine basketball.”

Mendoza finished with 30 points, 21 coming from the first half, while Matt Nieto had 25 points and six rebounds.

Season MVP Mike Nieto had 12 points and eight rebounds for Ateneo.

John Clemente led NU with 24 points and seven rebounds.

Mark Dyke and Justine Baltazar ruled the boards for NU grabbing 14 and 10 respectively.