MANILA – Negrense Thomas Pillado delivered timely points as National University Nazareth School Bullpups edged Adamson University Baby Falcons, 67-64, in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 86 high school basketball finals on Wednesday at San Juan Arena.
The former Bacolod Tay Tung High School and Hua Siong College of Iloilo guard delivered a timely jumped in the fourth quarter along with Elijah Yusi and Collins Akowe as the Bullpups clawed back from a 15-point deficit and took a 66-62 lead.
Baby Falcons’ Earl Medina cut the deficit to 64-66 with a layup and they have multiple opportunities to score but failed to take advantage. Pillado then increased the Bullpups’ lead to 67-64 with a split free throw.
Pillado, who was utilized by the Bullpups in Game 2 following the injury of Ilonggo Chad Cartel, finished with five points as the forced a do-or-die Game 3 this Sunday at the same venue.
Akowe, the newly-named MVP, led the way for the Bullpups with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Klein Tagotongan added 16 markers before being ejected midway through the final quarter.
“The job is not done yet,” Akowe said. “We still have one game which is on Sunday. We cannot afford to relax. It’s a do-or-die match now. We will give our all to win the game and win the championship.”
Medina top-scored for the Baby Falcons with 23 points, including five three-point conversions, Tebol Garcia added 13 markers, while Game 1 hero Vince Reyes was held to just seven points.
“Bumitaw lang kami sa dulo. Hindi namin sinunod yung game plan. Hindi naman nasunod yung concept sa plays,” said Garcia, who had a better performance in Game 2 after being held to three points in Game 1.
Meanwhile, aside from Akowe and Garcia, also named as part of the Mythical Five are University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers’ Andrei Dungo, De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers’ Kieffer Alas, and Ateneo Blue Eaglets’ Kris Poster.
University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Fighting Maroons’ Nathan Egea, on the other hand, bagged the season’s Rookie of the Year award./PN
