UE Junior Warriors ace Mav Mesina against the NU-Nazareth School Bulldogs. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — The University of the East (UE) continued its onslaught in the UAAP Season 87 junior high school basketball tournament.
The Junior Warriors claimed their 14th win in 15 games after its 85-64 drubbing of National University-Nazareth School on Wednesday afternoon in their Final 4 clash at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
This allowed the Andrew Estrella-coached squad to book a spot in the Finals, where they will be going up against the winner of the semifinals faceoff between Far Eastern University-Diliman and the University of Santo Tomas (UST).
Mav Mesina posted 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while following him was Jolo Pascual’s 12 markers, and this helped UE to dethrone the division’s inaugural champions after the Bullpups won it in Season 86.
“Our game plan was executed by the boys, and wala akong hihilingin pa,” said Estrella during the postgame presser. “First quarter, a little bit, then second quarter talaga kami lumamang.”
“And yes, sila yung inaugural champions pero ‘di ko naman inisp silang i-dethrone. Wala eh, the boys worked, and hard work paid off,” he continued.
Only leading by seven, 24-17, after the first 10 minutes of action, the Junior Warriors came alive in the second half by outscoring them 30-19, and this enabled UE to build a lead that grew to as much as 26, 83-57, later on.
This eventually was all they needed to complete the Finals-clinching victory while also sending the Kevin De Castro-mentored squad packing, but for Estrella, what he still wants to see is more consistency from UE.
“Yung consistency na sinabi ko kanina, yun ang hinahanap ko,” said the first-year coach, whose squad’s only loss came against FEU-D in the elims.And these, said Estrella, is what he will be seeking from when they enter the championship round.
“Actually, masakit yung talo na yun, so it will be our motivation. Pero great na naramdaman namin yun [sa eliminations], and gladly, our players took it personally, na hindi na dapat ulit mangyari yun,” he added.
Meanwhile, Big Mac Tadeo led NU-Nazareth with 17 markers, six boards, two dimes, and one block.
Chester Tulabut had an 11-point, 11-rebound game, while Nick Pena and Dave Quinto each had seven.
THE SCORES:
UE 85 — Mesina 19, Pascual 12, Ferreros 11, Garcia 11, Delos Reyes 11, Oraa 6, Panganiban 5, Bungar 4, Orca 4, Okebata 2, Dalosa 0.
NUNS — Tadeo 17, Tulabut 11, N. Pena 7, Quinto 7, Sabareza 6, Y. Pena 6, Khobuntin 5, Vitug 3, Reroma 2, Urea 0, Toring 0, Gutierrez 0, Maranan 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17, 54-36, 67-50, 85-64.