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| Lambert Tenotrio put on a shooting clinic in the second half of their game against NU. (image by Alyson Yap/Fabilioh.com) |
AHS Blue Eaglets over the NU Bullpups, 49-42
Unlike in many previous seasons, the Season 74 edition of the National University Bullpups won’t be pushovers.
They toted an unblemished 2-0 record entering their 9:00am game against the Blue Eaglets, who bounced back against the FEU Baby Tamaraws after dropping their first assignment against Zobel. NU had height, length, athleticism and good playmaking.
They have at least four guys who look well-built enough to compete in the seniors division, and have shown their quality by beating the likes of UST and UPIS. By all intents and purposes, the Bullpups are set to break out of the pound.
It was our Eaglets, however, who broke out of the gates with sharp shooting.
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| Kiefer Lim helped the Eaglets run out to an early lead. (image by Erwin Cabbab/Fabilioh.com) |
Kris Porter, Jed Austria, Kiefer Lim, Mark Gamboa, Fran Asuncion and Anton Asistio all conspired to erect a 14-3 lead late in the 1st quarter. The Eaglet defense kept the Bullpups in check and the Katipuneros’ shooting made NU pay.
It was at this point when coach Jeff Napa’s wards made their counterattack.
Highlighted by Norjohn Tendenilla’s backdoor plays, NU charged back, tied the game at 19 by mid-2nd quarter, and eventually took the lead 23-20. It didn’t help matters that the Eaglets’s shooting turned horribly anemic.
Ateneo stole it back, though, by way of a late Asuncion 3 and a Tomas Ramos undergoal stab to beat the halftime buzzer, 25-23.
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| Tomas Ramos struggled against the tall NU frontline. (image by Erwin Cabbab/Fabilioh.com) |
Pardon the pun, but it was clear that, just like with the Zobel game, the Eaglets were in a dogfight.
The 3rd stanza opened up with another Asistio 3, but the Bullpups went on a 7-0 spurt behind Carlos Lopena and Raphael Atangan to put the Blue & Gold ahead, 30-25.
And then Lambert Tenorio began shooting the lights out of the Blue Eagle Gym.
Tenorio hit a triple from the right wing that sparked a 7-0 Eaglet burst. AHS regained the advantage, 35-30 and NU sued for time.
Bullpup guard Harvey Subrabas cut the gap with a putback, 35-32, before Tenorio hit two threes in succession to peg the Blue & White lead at 9, 41-32, by the period’s end.
The senior guard had failed to score a single point prior to that outburst, and visions of his more famous sibling came to fore as his long toms sank one after the other.
NU tried to threaten again in the last quarter, but Tenorio hit his fourth triple and scored on a drive to keep the Eaglets beyond harm’s way. Lim scored on his own rainbow shot to provide the rest of the Ateneo points in the last canto.
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| Anton Asistio was a steady backcourt presence for the Eaglets. (image by Erwin Cabbab/Fabilioh.com) |
In the end, coach Joe Silva’s Eaglets earned their 2nd win in 3 starts, 49-42, and are looking to be a serious contender for that elusive 4-peat diadem.
It was by no means a pretty game, with both squads shooting well below 30% from the field, but I’m sure Ateneo is happy to come out on top and prove that, though depleted, they are still a formidable force in Season 74. Next up is another dangerous foe – the Adamson Baby Falcons and their terrific troop of all-arounders (William Polican, Carl Soriano, and Angelo Quinlog to name a few).
As for Tenorio, may this game be viewed as Exhibit A in his efforts to step outside the imposing shadow of his illustrious brother. Watching him stroke from deep was a stark reminder that they share more than a name.
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| Lambert Tenorio has shown his desire to follow in the footsteps of his more famous brother. (image by Jessie F. Ramos) |
One BIG Fight!
AHS 49 – Tenorio 14, Asistio 9, Ramos 6, Lim 6, Asuncion 5, Austria 4, Porter 3, Gamboa 2, Ravena 0, Ladaban 0, Consunji 0, Capacio 0, Black 0, Vitangcol 0, Puno 0
FEU 42 – Lopena 11, Tendenilla 8, Rivero 7, Baliton 6, Tansingco 4, Atangan 4, Subrabas 2, Lutia 0, Lapiz 0, Battad 0, Napa 0, Busa 0
QS: 14-7, 25-23, 41-32, 49-42
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