National University Nazareth School delivered a dominant performance, dismantling Ateneo de Manila University in a massive 141-40 rout in the UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Basketball Tournament on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Already assured of a Finals berth following the University of Santo Tomas’ victory over De La Salle Zobel last Sunday, the Lady Bullpups showed no signs of complacency, cruising to their fourth win in five games while keeping the Blue Eagles winless at 0-5.
Riding a two-game winning streak, NUNS carries significant momentum heading into a Finals preview against the undefeated UST on Thursday, March 6, at the same time and venue.
The Lady Bullpups’ 101-point rout now stands as the second-largest winning margin in UAAP girls’ basketball history, surpassing De La Salle Zobel’s 99-point blowout (115-16) against Ateneo on February 9.
“We just wanted to play strong today because this game will set the tone for our next game against UST, the unbeaten team right now. ‘Yon lang gusto namin, to just give confidence sa mga bata,” said NUNS head coach Camilla Escoto.
“In terms of depth, ‘yon ang gusto ko kasi gusto ko balanse kami na whoever gets into the court, makakapag-contribute. Importante ‘yon if we want to solve the UST puzzle,” she added.
NUNS wasted no time asserting its dominance, racing to a staggering 46-0 lead in the opening period before extending the gap to 74-7 at halftime. The Blue Eagles’ only points in the first half came in the second quarter—a layup by Tyler Templo, a three-pointer from Virlene Gozum, and a midrange jumper by Cesca Pangilinan.
The Lady Bullpups continued their relentless assault in the second half, pushing their lead to 107-23 by the third quarter, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Six Lady Bullpups finished in double figures, with Ashlyn Abong leading the charge with 27 points on an efficient 13-of-15 shooting, along with 13 rebounds and three assists. MVP frontrunner Zaydhen Rosano added 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
In just her second game of the season, Hasly Mallari contributed 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists, while Aubrey Lapasaran impressed with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting, six assists, five steals, and four rebounds. Ashley Trinidad and Marie Sales also made their presence felt with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
For Ateneo, Templo once again led the charge, finishing with 20 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
The Blue Eagles will look to end their season on a high note when they take on the Junior Lady Archers on Sunday at the same time and venue.
Games on Sunday (Filoil Ecooil Centre)
8 a.m. – DLSZ vs Ateneo (girls’)
10 a.m. – UE vs FEU (boys’)
12 p.m. – UST vs AdU (boys’)
2 p.m. – DLSZ vs Ateneo (boys’)
4 p.m. – UPIS vs NU (boys’)
