UAAP boys hoops finals: Lucido steps up as Bullpups force decider vs FEU

NU’s Shaun Lucido (18)

(UAAP Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — With the National University’s title hopes in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball on the cusp of getting dashed, the Bullpups were in dire need for a boost.

And in Thursday’s Game 2, the biggest one came from the stands.

With the Bullpups basically against the wall, Shaun Lucido came up big for NU, finishing with 25 points, with 17 coming in the first half.

He top-scored for the Sampaloc-based squad to tow the Bullpups past Far Eastern University in a blowout, 80-59, in Game 2 Thursday.

This thus forced a winner-take-all Game 3 for the title.

After the match, Lucido said that a familiar face on the sidelines helped him in perhaps the biggest performance of his young career — his father, Shree Brian.

The elder Lucido came from Bicol and traveled to Quezon City to watch his son play.

For Shaun, it was just what he needed.

“Si Papa, galing Bicol. Parang pumunta pa dito para manood ng Game 2. Nakuha ko yung kumpiyansa ko dahil sa kaniya e, kumbaga, nanood siya,” he told reporters.

“Siya po yung dahilan kung bakit ako nagsimula sa basketball. Kaya siguro rin dun ko nakuha yung kumpiyansa ko,” he added.

NU led by just four, 18-14, after the first 10 minutes of the game.

And with Lucido leading the charge, the Bullpups jumped to a 45-31 lead at the half, and it became the separation the squad needed to force Game 3.

The lead grew to as much as 22 points, 80-58, late.

“Shaun is Shaun e. Kumbaga, yun yung binill ko sa kaniya coming to this season, talagang capable siya to take charge. Yun nga lang, medyo mahiyain. Kumbaga, kailangan latiguhin mo pa e,” NU head coach Kevin de Castro said of Lucido.

“Noong 16-under, talagang nakita mo na… silent operator ang tawag ko sa kaniya e. So yun, at least, kahit papaano, in today’s game talagang in-accept niya yung challenge na sa scoring, siya yung mag-[initiate] ng offense namin,” he added.

De Castro also tipped his hat to other players, such as Mot Matias, who had five points and 10 assists, and Moussa Diakite, who produced 10 markers and 14 boards.

“Wala na akong masabi sa mga players nila, talagang trinabaho nila e,” he added.

Kurt Figueroa also produced 10 markers for the winning team, to go with sevne boards. Corian Cabantog had nine and a game-high +- of +28.

Cabs Cabonillas powered FEU with 18 points and 12 rebounds, along with two blocks, two steals and an assist. Khean Esperanza had 13.

“Sobrang gutom na gutom na kami [sa championship] kasi matagal naming pinagtrabahuan namin ito,” Lucido said.

“Game 3, wala na sa stats, system. Kumbaga, guts and glory na yun. Dun na papasok yung individual talent na meron yung team na FEU and at the same time, sa amin. So sana, ma-bless kami ulit ni Lord sa Game 3,” de Castro added.

Game 3 is on Monday, 3 p.m., at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.