The NU-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups started the UAAP Season 88 girls basketball tournament with a record-breaking win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The NU-Nazareth School Lady Bullpups got things going in their bid for redemption in the UAAP Season 88 girls basketball tournament after a resounding 155-29 win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the Blue Eagle Gym on Sunday.
Runners-up to the UST Junior Tigresses last season, the Lady Bullpups scored the largest winning margin across all UAAP divisions with the 126-point victory. This shattered the mark previously recorded by UST also against Ateneo last year of 124 points.
Inday Sales and Aubrey Lapasaran powered the Lady Bullpups in the history-making win to get things going in their title bid.
Sales paced a team effort which saw 10 NUNS players finishing in double digit scoring, finishing with 19 points, six assists, three rebounds, and one steal.
Meanwhile, Kapasaran added 15 points, eight steals, four assists, and three rebounds to give new NUNS head coach Ai Lebornio a winning debut at the UAAP girls’ basketball level.
She took over the program from former head coach Camilla Escoto.
“It’s a blessing sa team at para sa amin. Noong pumunta naman kami dito, sinabi naman namin sa mga bata na we’ll play hard kasi this season, subukan ulit [mag-champion]. Last season, masakit pa sa kanila na hindi nakuha. Ngayon, dreamers yung mga bata na makuha namin this year,” Lebornio said.
“Hindi naman namin makukuha ‘yon kung hindi namin pagdadaanan lahat. Excited kami at excited ako to coach yung mga players na ito kasi since nung dumating ako, yung pag-welcome ng mga bata at kung paano sila maglaro at naghanda, hindi naging madali, kaya excited ako sa ipapakita nila ngayong season."
From the get-go, the Lady Bullpups were in complete control and had a 37-4 first-quarter lead thanks to the offense of Zane Singson, Zaydhen Rosano, and Lapasaran. By halftime, it was a 70-point advantage, 80-10.
Other notable stats from the game include a near triple-double from Hasly Mallari, who finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists.
The NUNS look to sustain the momentum when the Lady Bullpups face De La Salle Zobel on Thursday, January 22, in San Juan.
Meanwhile, Ateneo will hope for a better showing against defending champions UST on Sunday, January 18, also at the Blue Eagle Gym.
—
Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.