MANILA, Philippines – National University (NU) matched defending champion Ateneo de Manila University’s immaculate 4-0 record on Saturday by ripping apart  De La Salle-Zobel quintet, 74-62 to share the top spot in the 73rd UAAP juniors basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena.

Banking on its cerebral quarterbacking, hustle and quickness, NU ably neutralized the taller and heftier Junior Archers’ patented halfcourt trapping defense with a spate of  fastbreak lay-ups, resulting in 30 transition points that proved too much for the visibly lost Season 72 runners-up who only managed 7 points in the entire third quarter.

Equally hurting La Salle was the Bullpups’ 20 assists mostly from outlet feeds which repeatedly forced the Junior Archers to give up cheap fouls to break the transition play.

With his shooting guns triggering one run after the other, burly guard Roque Estoce again led the Bullpups on a near-flawless 3-of-4 sniping from beyond en route to a team-high 23 points plus 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.

The Bullpups unleashed a dizzying 18-2 salvo bridging the third and fourth quarters to post the biggest lead of the game at 58-28 and virtually lock the count in favor of NU.

Yet La Salle did not surrender without a fight as the Junior Archers went on an 8-2 surge to inch closer at 61-48. But 2 free throws and a jumper form Jonel Parungao kept the Junior Archers at bay, 65-48, with 4:17 left to play.

La Salle finalized the tally by clustering 8 straight points, including 6 from the stripe.

Alexander Torres led the Junior Archers with 28 points while Joseph Tempongko added 10.

Estoce got ample support from Parungao and Kevin Lara who chipped in 18 and 10 points, respectively.

La Salle out-rebounded NU, 45-39, but shot a measly 30.8% from the field, making just 20 of 65 attempts.

Prior to NU’s clinical dismantling of La Salle, the Eaglets grounded the low-flying Adamson University Baby Falcons, 78-61, in the third game with Ateneo big man Von Pessumal registering a career-high 23 points on top of 9 rebounds and 3 assists.

In other matches, University of Santo Tomas walloped University of the Philippines Integrated School, 120-69, behind the 37-point, 11-rebound explosion of Kevin Ferrer, while Far Eastern University trounced University of the East, 93-68.

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The Scores:

1st game
FEU 93 – Tanoy 21, Fabian 18, Custodio 16, Dimdam 9, San Jose 6, Gelig 6, Lumahan 5, Pearson 5, Palacio 2, Manuel 2, Paulino 2, Carino 2, Pangalangan 0, Sia 0, Estacio 0.
UE 66 – Magpantay 14, Martin 9, Ablaza 9, Gutierrez 9, Coligado 7, Rodriguez 5, Diswe 3, De Leon 3, Viajar 2, Pajarillaga 2, Duray 2, Liwag 1, Santiago 0, Bernabe 0.
Quarter scores: 24-7, 56-23, 71-46, 93-66.

2nd game
NU 74 – Estoce 23, Parungao 18, Lara 11, Atangan 9, Meneses 6, Tansingco 5, Carta 2, Rivero 0, Caparas 0, Banquiao 0.
DLSZ 62 – Torres A. 28, Tempongko 10, Torres J. 9, Capacio 6, Subido 5, Reyes 3, Monteiro 2, Salvador 0, Roxas 0, Calugcug 0.
Quarter scores: 23-15, 36-31, 56-38, 74-62.

3rd game
ADMU 78 – Pessumal 23, Romero 12, Ravena 11, Dumrique 10, Sacluti 4, Lim 4, Suarez 2, Puno 2, Mercado 2, Javelosa 2, Austria 2, Tenorio 2, Vitangcol 1, Gamboa 1, Gadia 0.
ADU 61 – Manlangit 14, Mendoza 13, Villondo 8, Umengan 8, Quinlog 6, Llaunderes 5, Saludo 4, Polican 3, Solomon 0, Margallo 0, Taguimacon 0, Soriano 0, malco 0, Hermoso 0, Domingo 0.
Quarter scores: 21-17, 43-38, 56-48, 78-61.

4th game
UST 120 – Ferrer 37, Corre 12, Cabauatan 12, Gooh 11, Florentin 8, Miso 8, Lazaro 6, Sarcia 6, Ilarde 5, Castro 4, Salas 2, Reyes 2, Pelias 2, Latoreno 2, cabural 2, Paglinawan 1.
UPIS 69 – Cinco 21, General 10, Lopez 8, Lina 8, Quejada 6, Ancheta 6, Rodriguez 4, Abenojar 2, Nacpil 2, Gregorio 2, Villaluna 0, Mercado 0. Chua 0.
Quarter scores: 25-9, 54-22, 91-47, 120-69.