Bullpups clobber Eaglets, gain PCABL finals

JOHN Lloyd Clemente and Win Coyuga combined for 32 points as National University downed Ateneo, 84-76, yesterday and advanced to the title match of the Smart-PCABL 3rd Invitational Cup at Buddhacare Gym in Quezon City.

Clemente topscored with 18 points and Coyuga added 14, five assists and one block for the reigning UAAP juniors champions Bullpups, who will dispute the crown with the winner between top seed Chiang Kai Shek College and De La Salle-Zobel.

DLSZ leaned on the 19 points of Martin Romero to neutralize the twice-to-beat shield of CKSC with a 68-67 squeaker in their own semifinal playoff. The DLSZ-CHSC do-or-die match was still being played at press time.

The Bullpups stormed to a 26-6 lead in the first quarter to cripple the Blue Eaglets, who never found their range throughout.

With a superb transition game, NU kept Ateneo at bay and even took a 47-25 lead at the half.

Ateneo went to SJ Belanguel, who fired 12 of his 32 points in the final period, to cut the deficit to eight at the end of the game.