Camille Naredo

Miekho Natinga of National University Nazareth School puts up a shot against Far Eastern University-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 boys' basketball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media

Miekho Natinga of National University Nazareth School puts up a shot against Far Eastern University-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 boys' basketball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.

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UAAP Season 88

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771411272173UAAP88 JRSBB - MIEKHO NATINGA-5927.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Miekho Natinga of National University Nazareth School puts up a shot against Far Eastern University-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media" width="960"/>Miekho Natinga of National University Nazareth School puts up a shot against Far Eastern University-Diliman in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- National University Nazareth School pulled off an 80-72 triumph over Far Eastern University-Diliman on Wednesday to avenge its first round loss in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament.The result gave the Bullpups  and the Baby Tamaraws identical 8-2 win-loss records, putting them in a tie at the top of the league standings.This was the sixth straight win for Kevin de Castro&#x27;s Bullpups, which includes crucial wins over defending champion University of Santo Tomas and another contender in Ateneo de Manila University.&quot;Masaya ako dahil nakuha nila yung challenge na binigay ko sa kanila. Sabi ko nga, yung &#x27;Dangerous Three&#x27; nakuha namin kaya kahit papaano makakahinga kami ng maluwag pero hindi pa tapos. May mga remaining games pa kami,&quot; he said.In another key result, De La Salle-Zobel stunned rival Ateneo, 80-72, in a wire-to-wire win to further shake up the team standings.The Blue Eagles dropped to third with a 7-3 slate, while the Junior Archers climbed to solo fourth at 5-5. Below them are <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/2/18/uaap-ue-ust-create-logjam-for-fourth-in-boys-basketball-1549">UST, University of the East and Adamson</a>, who are a game behind the Junior Archers at 4-6.The Bullpups dominated early against the Baby Tamaraws, taking a 42-23 lead at halftime and extending it to 76-56 midway through the final frame.However, FEU-Diliman, true to their season-long form, mounted a furious comeback.Leading MVP candidate Cabs Cabonilas, along with long-time teammates Marc Burgos and Yosef Rañeses, sparked a 15-0 run capped by a Rañeses three-pointer with 22 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to five points.Clutch free throws from Mot Matias and Miekho Natinga, combined with a miss by Cabonilas, sealed the win for NUNS.&quot;Na-define namin yung mga roles nila at na-maximize na namin yung bawat isa. Mas naging family din kami. Sana magtuloy-tuloy pa,&quot; De Castro said, reflecting on how the Bullpups overcame their 2-2 start.&quot;Very happy ako sa mga naging performance ng players namin. Talagang tinrabaho nila.&quot;Natinga came off the bench to lead NUNS with 17 points, including five triples. Shaun Lucido, the MVP of the inaugural UAAP Junior High School Boys tournament, and Corian Cabantog added 14 points each, while Matias contributed 12 points, nine assists, and five steals.Cabonilas finished with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and three steals, while JB Cagurungan and Sam Hall added 16 and 13 points, respectively, for FEU-Diliman.<div> </div><div>RIVALRY GAME</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771411315773UAAP88 JRSBB - MACO DABAO-6444.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers in their game against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media" width="960"/>The De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers in their game against Ateneo in the UAAP Season 88 boys&#x27; basketball tournament, February 18, 2026 at the Filoil Centre in San Juan. UAAP Media</div>Meanwhile, the Junior Archers delivered their best performance of the season against their archrivals.DLSZ took control early, opening with a 13-3 run and leading 48-37 at halftime. Ateneo narrowed the gap with a 19-10 third quarter, bringing the score to 58-56 entering the final period.With Ateneo threatening midway through the fourth, DLSZ executed a decisive rally, with contributions from Kio Favis, Maco Dabao, Ken Atienza, Mark Borrero, and Yusuf Mikailu, restoring a lead that never fell below eight points for the remainder of the game.&quot;It&#x27;s been rough over the past few games, but luckily we were able to break that losing streak against UPIS and carry that momentum here,&quot; head coach Gian Nazario said, noting that DLSZ had lost three straight games before beating UPIS and Ateneo.&quot;I told the team right after the game that it was a big win, but it still doesn&#x27;t put us anywhere—we haven&#x27;t won anything yet. Maybe we&#x27;ve proven that we belong, but that&#x27;s not enough. We&#x27;re not secure yet; we still have a lot of things to work on.&quot;Dabao led DLSZ with 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting, adding five assists and three rebounds. Borrero had 14 points, while Nino Ferrer contributed 13.Mikailu, the 6-foot-11 Nigerian big man, grabbed 17 rebounds and scored eight points, also defending fellow countryman Jude Eriobu, who still finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks for Ateneo.Jay M. Leal and Noah Banal struggled from the field, combining for just 8-of-23 shooting, with Leal posting 14 points and six rebounds and Banal adding 11.DLSZ also forced Ateneo into 23 turnovers, converting them into 25 points.<div> </div><div>The Scores:</div><div>Third Game:</div>NUNS 80 - Natinga 17, Lucido 14, Cabantog 14, Matias M. 12, Figueroa 6, Matias R. 5, Diakite 5, Juan 3, Cartel 2, Bouzina 2.FEU-D 72 - Cabonilas 17, Cagurungan 16, Hall 13, Esperanza 9, Gaye 8, Carino 4, Raneses 3, Burgos 2, Alagaban 0, Santos 0, Sohm 0.Quarterscores: 17-16, 42-23, 62-45, 80-72.<div> </div><div>Fourth Game:</div>DLSZ 80 - Dabao 24, Borrero 14, Ferrer 13, Atienza 8, Mikailu 8, Favis 8, Arejola 5, Alpapara 0, Llamas 0, Luna 0, Dimayuga 0.Ateneo 72 - Eriobu 25, Leal 14, Banal 11, Tamayo 6, Espinas 5, Reyes 5, Kaw 3, Aquino 2, Madrangca 0, Gatmaitan 0.Quarterscores: 25-18, 48-37, 58-56, 80-72.

National University Nazareth School pulled off an 80-72 triumph over Far Eastern University-Diliman on Wednesday to avenge its first round loss in the #UAAPSeason88 boys' basketball tournament.

National University Nazareth School pulled off an 80-72 triumph over Far Eastern University-Diliman on Wednesday to avenge its first round loss in the #UAAPSeason88 boys' basketball tournament.

UAAP: NU Nazareth stuns FEU-Diliman, earns share of lead in boys' hoops

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UAAP: NU Nazareth stuns FEU-Diliman, earns share of lead in boys' hoops

ABS-CBN News

Published February 18, 2026 06:43 PM PHT

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