MANILA – National University Nazareth School (NUNS) held off University of the East (UE), 95-90, to remain unbeaten in the UAAP Season 89 boys’ basketball at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday.
The Bullpups improved to 8-0, extending their winning streak to 24 games over the past two years.
The Junior Warriors, meanwhile, dropped into a tie for third place with the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers at 5-3.
“Buti na lang ‘yung players ko, they stayed composed and na-execute din namin ‘yung dapat gawin. Kaya lang, may mga kailangan pa kaming gawin sa transition defense. Sa fastbreak din kami nayari. Not satisfied, but a win is a win. Wala namang tatalo sa kanila kundi ang sarili nila (Fortunately, my players stayed composed, and we managed to execute what we needed to execute. However, we still need to work on our transition defense. We got hurt by fastbreaks. I’m not entirely satisfied, but a win is a win. The only ones who can beat them are themselves),” NUNS coach Leo Pujante said.
UE mounted a 17-4 run capped by Jaden Roxas’ layup to tie the game at 74-all heading into the fourth quarter.
NUNS moved ahead, 82-77, but UE threatened again when Jadan Sena hit a triple to cut the deficit to 84-85 with just over three minutes remaining.
Kurt Mercado’s fastbreak layup tied the score at 90-all before Dwyane Enriquez drained a corner triple to put the Bullpups ahead. Andrie Lopez then sank two free throws to seal the victory.
“Tira lang ako nang tira. Siyempre, pumapasok naman, tapos kinakapalan ko lang mukha ko just kept shooting (I just kept shooting. Of course, the shots were going in, so I just played with confidence),” Enriquez, who led NUNS with 18 points, six assists and five rebounds, said of his go-ahead triple.
“Ginagawa ko lang ‘yung kinakaya ko and ‘yung magagawa ko sa team. Communicate lang kami sa isa’t isa (I’m just doing the best I can and whatever I can for the team. We just communicate with each other),” he added.
Lopez contributed 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Arnold Flores Jr. added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Aaron Dalanan and Chandler Cano had 14 points apiece.
Mercado led UE with 23 points and four steals. Odrie Mallabo added 12 points and five rebounds, while Mark Redulfa and Roxas scored 11 points each.
The next games on Oct. 15 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila will feature Far Eastern University-Diliman against University of Santo Tomas at 9 a.m., Ateneo against UE at 11 a.m., UP Integrated School against NUNS at 1 p.m., and DLSZ against Adamson at 3 p.m. (Jean Malanum/PNA)
TOP SCORER: Dwyane Enriquez leads National University to a 90-85 victory over University of the East in the UAAP Season 89 U16 boys basketball at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday (Oct. 11, 2026). Enriquez finished with 18 points and five rebounds.
