PASAY CITY — The University of the East’s Junior Warriors secured their fifth consecutive victory in the UAAP Season 87 junior basketball league by defeating the reigning champions, National University Nazareth School Bullpups, with a decisive score of 89-64 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Jolo Pascual led the charge for the Junior Warriors, scoring 21 points, including three triples. Pascual also contributed five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block to the team’s dominant performance. Mav Mesina and Neil Garcia were also key players in the victory, contributing 13 and 12 points respectively, with Mesina also recording 10 assists.
The Warriors established a commanding lead early in the game, going up by as much as 32 points in the third quarter. Contributions also came from Enrico Bungar and Gab Delos Reyes, who scored 10 points each, while Fil-Nigerian Goodluck Okebata added seven points and 10 rebounds, underscoring the team’s depth and coordination.
UE coach Andrew Estrella praised his team’s commitment and execution of their game plan. “It was really a total team effort. Not only with the players but from the management, coaching staff. Everyone is working hard. Every practice, our physical therapists take care of the players. We just work as a team. I feel that’s the key to our success,” Estrella said in the post-match interview.
In contrast, the Bullpups struggled to find their rhythm, with Nick Peña scoring 22 points and Chester Tulabut adding 14 points. The loss pushed the Bullpups down to fifth place in the standings with a record of 2-4.
In other league news, Adamson University snapped a six-game losing streak with an 85-70 win over the University of the Philippines Integrated School. Adamson’s coach, Alex Barrera, expressed optimism about the future. “Maybe, this is the start,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of instilling a winning culture in the young team. Khyian Edison Jordan led Adamson with 19 points, supported by Chrys Jeriel Gomez and others contributing significantly to the win.
The Junior Fighting Maroons, despite a standout performance by Jhustin Hallare who scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, remain winless after five games.