Blue Eaglets, Bullpups begin UAAP title duel

Game today

2 p.m. – NU vs ADMU (Jrs finals)

MANILA, Philippines - With a thrice-to-beat edge, Ateneo hopes to move a win away from finishing off defending champion National University as the Blue Eaglets take on the Bullpups in the opener of the UAAP Season 77 juniors basketball finals at The Arena in San Juan today.

Gametime is at 2 p.m. with the Blue Eaglets needing to win just twice to clinch the championship and foil the Bullpups’ bid to complete NU’s sweep of all UAAP cage titles this season. NU will have to beat Ateneo three times to retain the crown.

The match will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports+Action.   ?       

The Bulldogs ended their 60-year title drought in men’s basketball last October before their women’s basketball squad annexed the title via 16-0 sweep.

The last school to win basketball titles in all three divisions was University of Santo Tomas in 1994.

NU defeated Ateneo in the Season 76 Finals, for its second title in three years, also via a 16-0 sweep.        ?      

Despite the odds, Bullpups coach Jeff Napa remains hopeful of his wards chances to pull off a reversal.

Mark Dyke, Justine Baltazar, Philip Manalang and John Clemente are expected to lead NU, which eliminated No. 4 De La Salle-Zobel in the stepladder semifinals.  Behind soon-to-be named MVP Mike Nieto and his twin brother Matthew and Jolo Mendoza, Ateneo jumped straight to the title round after sweeping the double-round eliminations.         

The Eaglets are gunning for the 19th title, but the first since 2010 after completing a three-peat behind Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal.

NU defeated Ateneo in the Season 76 Finals, for its second title in three years, also via a 16-0 sweep.        ?      

Despite the odds, Bullpups coach Jeff Napa remains hopeful of his wards chances to pull off a reversal.

“The tougher the task, the Mas mahirap man ang pagdadaraan, eh di mas masarap,” said Napa.           ?       

Mark Dyke, Justine Baltazar, Philip Manalang and John Clemente are expected to lead NU, which eliminated No. 4 De La Salle-Zobel in the stepladder semifinals.  Behind soon-to-be named MVP Mike Nieto and his twin brother Matthew and Jolo Mendoza, Ateneo jumped straight to the title round after sweeping the double-round eliminations.         

The Eaglets are gunning for the 19th title, but the first since 2010 after completing a three-peat behind Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal.