Mendoza spearheads Blue Eaglets to UAAP title

JOLO Mendoza came out big for the second straight game as Ateneo trounced National University, 90-73, yesterday to capture the UAAP juniors basketball championship at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Mendoza exploded for a career-high 30 points, 19 coming in the second quarter where the Blue Eaglets broke away from 22-21 to build an 18-point advantage at halftime, 52-34, in Game 3 of the Finals.

A third-year shooting guard, Mendoza also fired 20 points in the Eaglets’ Game 2 victory, 78-76, to bag the Finals MVP plum.

Matt Nieto likewise shone by dropping 13 of his 25 points in the first quarter where the Eaglets quickly rallied from an early 5-12 deficit and took the lead by the end of the period, 22-21.

The Bullpups—who dealt the Eaglets’ first loss in Game 1, 76-72, last week—didn’t go away easily as the defending champions trimmed the Eaglets’ lead to just six points, 55-49, in the third quarter behind John Clemente and Jordan Sta. Ana.

But the Eaglets’ support cast of Gian Mamuyac, Marc Salandanan and Miguel Ramos backstopped season MVP Mike Nieto in the second half to restore the lead in double figures, 72-62.

The Eaglets—who held a thrice-to-beat advantage in the series after a 14-0 run in the eliminations—copped their 18th overall crown while spoiling NU’s bid of a three-division sweep.

NU ended a 60-year title drought in the men’s division and also completed a 16-0 title run in women’s action.

The scores:
ATENEO 90—Mendoza 30, Nieto Ma. 25, Nieto Mi. 12, Mamuyac 8, Salandanan 6, Ramos 5, Joson 3, Hassan 1, Ildefonso 0, Andrade 0, Eustaquio 0, Termoso 0, Bernardo 0, Gatmaitan 0, Moreno 0, Rosales 0.
NU 73—Clemente 24, Sta. Ana 13, Manalang 10, Dyke 9, Baltazar 7, Camaso 5, Atienza 3, Ferreras 2, Mina 0, De Guzman 0, Callejo 0, Claveria 0, Saquian 0, Dela Cruz 0, Penano 0.
Quarters: 22-21, 52-34, 65-57, 90-73