Andrie Lopez of NUNS in action against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys' 16-and-under Basketball Tournament, October 4, 2026 at the Adamson SV Gym. UAAP Media
MANILA — National University Nazareth School steamrolled Ateneo de Manila University, 114-71, to complete a first-round sweep in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys' 16-and-under Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Adamson SV Gym.
The Bullpups wrapped up the first round with a 7-0 record, extending their overall winning streak to 23 games as they turn their attention to the second round of eliminations.
"Paghahandaan namin ‘yung second round, kasi marami ring naghahanda para sa amin," said Jesse Arellano, who posted another double-double with 19 points and 19 rebounds.
NUNS led by as many as 43 points, 91-48, in the third quarter and scored 28 points off the Blue Eagles' 21 turnovers.
The Bullpups also shot an efficient 50.6 percent from the field, including a 10-of-26 clip from beyond the arc.
Arnold Flores Jr. led all scorers with 28 points, while Andrie Lopez added 21 and Chandler Cano chipped in 14.
Richkurt Dela Cruz paced Ateneo with 15 points. Diego Nuque-Bautista scored 12, while Spencer Saw added 11.
Kurt Mercado of UE in action against Adamson in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys' 16-and-under Basketball Tournament, October 4, 2026 at the Adamson SV Gym. UAAP Media
Earlier, University of the East spoiled Kobe Edrada's 30-point outing and recovered from a sluggish start to pull away from Adamson University, 99-74.
Edrada tied the season's single-game scoring record and dished out five assists, but UE's relentless aggression and hot shooting kept Adamson on its heels.
Andrie Ancheta contributed across the board with 11 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and four steals.
"Nag-prepare talaga kami. Talagang pinaghandaan namin ‘to. Nag-collapse kasi kami noong last game namin, then nag-adjust kami ngayon," Ancheta said.
UE bounced back from its 68-54 loss to De La Salle Zobel to finish the first round at 5-2. The Junior Warriors are now tied for second place with DLSZ and Far Eastern University-Diliman.
Kurt Mercado led UE with 16 points, five rebounds, and four steals. Jameson Sena added 14 points, while Xerone Dizon and Jaden Roxas contributed 12 apiece.
Edrada erupted for 19 first-half points as Adamson built an eight-point lead in the opening quarter, but Dizon spearheaded UE's spirited comeback as the Junior Warriors took a 52-41 advantage into halftime.
Zach Caintic was stretchered out of the gym after taking a hard fall on his back with 3:38 left in the second quarter.
The Junior Warriors continued to outpace the Baby Falcons in the second half, extending their lead to 28, 96-68, in the latter stages of the fourth quarter.
Rye Villaruz of La Salle-Zobel in action against UST in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys' 16-and-under Basketball Tournament, October 4, 2026 at the Adamson SV Gym. UAAP Media
Later in the afternoon, Miguel Austria's monster double-double went for naught as La Salle-Zobel defeated University of Santo Tomas, 91-81.
Austria delivered an impressive stat line of 27 points and 20 rebounds on 10-of-17 shooting, but the Junior Archers still claimed their third straight victory behind a dominant third-quarter performance.
"Definitely feels great. We're in a good position. But of course, we can't be complacent. So hopefully, we can bring this momentum into the second round," said La Salle head coach Hyram Bagatsing.
Rye Villaruz once again came through with a strong second-half showing, finishing with 24 points and nine rebounds. Enzo Purugganan added 15 points, while James Enriquez and Mikko Noel scored 10 points apiece.
DLSZ held a six-point advantage entering the second half before relying on balanced contributions from its bench to pull away. The Junior Archers then built a 17-point lead, 68-51, in the third quarter, their biggest advantage of the contest.
Wayne Anggot turned in 17 points and eight rebounds for UST.
Nicus Calma of FEU-Diliman in action against UPIS in the UAAP Season 89 High School Boys' 16-and-under Basketball Tournament, October 4, 2026 at the Adamson SV Gym. UAAP Media
Closing out Sunday's quadruple-header, FEU Diliman overpowered University of the Philippines Integrated School, 95-51.
"Sabi ko nga sa kanila, it's not how you start, it's how you finish. It's a long season. We better practice more, especially on defense," FEU-D head coach Muriel Garcia said after the Baby Tamaraws concluded the first round with back-to-back wins.
Nicus Calma led all scorers with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Hisham Mampao contributed 12 points and five assists.
The Baby Tamaraws took advantage of their size, dominating the rebounding battle, 62-27. FEU-D also shot an efficient 55.6 percent from the field.
Three Fighting Maroons scored in double figures, led by Dominic Labao with 14 points. Zandro Lugatiman added 12, while Hubert Bautista had 11.
The Scores:
First Game:
UE 99 - K. Mercado 16, Sena 14, Dizon 12, Roxas 12, Ancheta 11, Mallabo 7, Redulfa 7, Apostol 6, Aguilar 3, J. Mercado 3, Radin 3, Riparip 2, Maddara 1, Velayo 1, Pontiperda 1.
AdU 74 - Edrada 30, Bulan 12, Chan 10, Espiritu 8, Subido 5, Timtiman 3, Cads 3, Maycong 2, Delos Santos 1, Gayatin 0, Caintic 0, Dw. Sepnio 0, De. Sepnio 0.
Quarterscores: 19-23, 52-41, 80-59, 99-74.
Second Game:
NUNS 114 - Flores 28, Lopez 21, Arellano 19, Cano 14, Macoy 8, Mayor 6, Tundag 6, Dalanan 6, Enriquez 5, Pangan 1, Genido 0, Garcia 0, Geron 0, Osorio 0, Dizon 0.
Ateneo 71 - Dela Cruz 15, Nuque-Bautista 12, Saw 11, Fresnido 5, Gandionco 5, Beley 5, Ylen 4, Shi 4, Lucero 3, Bayona 2, Llavore 2, Molina 2, Manlutac 1, Mabigat 0, Dolera 0, Dionisio 0.
Quarterscores: 29-18, 61-39, 93-53, 114-71.
Third Game:
DLSZ 91 - Villaruz 24, E. Purugganan 15, Enriquez 10, Noel 10, I. Purugganan 8, Francisco 8, Dizon 7, Mercado 6, Paceno 3, Santiago 0, Quillo 0, Tabu 0.
UST 81 - Austria 27, Anggot 17, Samaniego 8, Collago 7, Cabanero 6, Umbana 5, Abototo 4, Eusebio 4, Esusan 3, Retaga 0, Bathan 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 41-35, 68-55, 91-81.
Fourth Game:
FEU-D 95 - Calma 16, Mampao 12, Alsola 9, Isip 8, Cruz 7, Garcia 6, Madrigal 6, Manaloto 6, Castro 6, Samonte 6, Barlan 5, Ira 4, Maghinay 2, Vale 2, Salazar 0, Cortes 0.
UPIS 51 - Labao 14, Lugatiman 12, Bautista 11, David 5, Santos 3, Poquiz 2, Floirendo 2, Rico 2, Sebastian 0, Sarthou 0, Avendano 0, Romey 0.
Quarterscores: 26-11, 49-30, 74-40, 95-51.