National University’s Miguel Palanca attempts a free throw during their game against Adamson University in the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball semifinals at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Sunday (March 9, 2025). NU won, 64-62, to reach the final against University of Santo Tomas. (UAAP photo)
Top-seeded National University Nazareth School (NUNS) secured a hard-fought victory over defending champion Adamson University, 64-62, on Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, punching their ticket to the UAAP Season 87 boys’ basketball finals.
Miguel Palanca powered the Bullpups with a double-double performance, tallying 13 points and 14 rebounds, steering NU to its second consecutive championship appearance and 11th finals berth in the last 12 seasons.
Awaiting NU in the finals is second-seeded University of Santo Tomas (UST), which dispatched Far Eastern University-Diliman, 75-63, in the other semifinal matchup.
Fourth-quarter surge propels NU to victory
Trailing for most of the game, the Bullpups mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, seizing a 53-49 lead behind key contributions from Palanca, Jedric Solomon, Alnhumaeri Usop, and Miekho Natinga. NU then stretched its advantage to 61-53 with just 2:54 left on the clock, a cushion that proved enough to hold off Adamson’s late rally.
Head coach Kevin De Castro lauded his team’s determination and composure in the high-stakes matchup.
“First of all, I want to thank my players because this is the kind of game I was looking for from them. The biggest question has always been: Who will step up?” De Castro said.
“Now, we can play in the finals and finally avenge our loss to Adamson last season. This may also be our chance to get back at UST. I have nothing but praise for my players because I saw their heart and resilience.”
Key performers
NU’s balanced attack was instrumental in their win. Collins Akowe contributed 11 points and six rebounds, while Natinga also finished with 11 points. Mot Matias added eight points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
For Adamson, Mark Esperanza delivered a standout performance with 24 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Sanir Sajili chipped in 10 points and six boards, while CJ Umali recorded seven points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Several key players for the Baby Falcons—Sajili, Umali, Earl Medina, Allen Perez, Gabe De Jesus, Jireh Tumaneng, and JR Abayon—will graduate after this season, marking the end of an era for Adamson’s squad.
UST returns to finals after 15 years
In the other semifinal, UST ended a 15-year finals drought by defeating FEU-Diliman, thanks to stellar performances from Joaquin Ludovice, who led with 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Koji Buenaflor and Charles Bucsit added 15 points each to fuel UST’s victory.
FEU’s Marc Burgos put up a valiant effort with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Cabs Cabonilas and Yosef Raneses chipped in 15 and 10 points, respectively.
With NU and UST set for a championship showdown, the battle for the UAAP boys’ basketball crown promises to be intense and thrilling.
