Noah Banal and Jay-m Leal combined for 36 points as Ateneo de Manila University rolled past archrival De La Salle Zobel, 80-65, to remain the lone unbeaten team through three games in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament on Sunday afternoon at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
Leal poured in 19 points to go with three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Meanwhile, Banal added 17 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists as the Blue Eagles seized sole possession of first place in the eight-team field.
Ateneo moved ahead of the pack following its third straight win and National University Nazareth School’s loss to Far Eastern University–Diliman earlier in the day.
The victory also marked Ateneo’s first 3-0 start in UAAP boys’ basketball in seven years, dating back to Season 80 (2018). There, the SJ Belangel-led Blue Eagles swept the 14-game elimination round before outlasting the Bullpups in a three-game championship series.
In the day’s other matchup, Ethan Aguas and the University of the East overcame a 32-point explosion from Jhustin Hallare, carving out a 92-72 victory to improve to 2-1 and grab a share of second place alongside NUNS and FEU-D.
Ateneo remained perfect under new head coach Bacon Austria, with the son of a PBA mentor choosing to keep his focus squarely on the present.
“To be honest, I just focused on the first game against UE, then I always tell them na we need a good start and we need to take everything one game at a time. Remember that we came from a seventh-place finish last year,” Austria said.
“We’re just taking it one game at a time. We reset every game. It’s early, but it’s hard to be on top and it’s harder to stay on top. I think the mindset every game is 0-0,” he added.
The Blue Eagles took control from the opening tip, riding a strong 28-16 first-quarter showing where Leal and Banal scored 11 points apiece. They followed it up with a 16-8 second-quarter run to turn a slim nine-point lead into a commanding 46-29 halftime cushion.
From there, Ateneo stayed firmly in the driver’s seat. A Zane Kallos layup and a Banal midrange jumper stretched the lead to 59-35, before the Blue Eagles settled for an insurmountable 20-point advantage, 63-43, entering the payoff period.
The Junior Archers mounted a spirited comeback in the fourth quarter behind a Maco Dabao layup and back-to-back triples from Champ Arejola and Kio Favis that trimmed the deficit to 72-59. However, timely baskets from YJ Lacsamana, Leal, and Kallos quickly snuffed out the rally and sealed Ateneo’s third consecutive win.
Kallos delivered an all-around effort with 11 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Espinas also scored 11 points to go with three rebounds, two steals, and one assist.
Nigerian center Jude Eriobu was limited to nine points on 3-of-8 shooting but made his presence felt on the glass with 17 rebounds and two steals. Lacsamana finished with seven points and five rebounds.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
In the final game of the day, two three-pointers by Hallare, coupled with back-to-back inside baskets by Matt Rosete and Raiven Pascual, kept the Fighting Maroons within striking distance of the Junior Warriors, trailing by just 10, 61-51, with 3:22 remaining in the third quarter.
UE responded with a decisive surge, closing the period with 13 unanswered points — capped by a Jamal Diaz layup, two free throws from Mhico Abellar, and an inside hit by Gab Delos Reyes — to build a commanding 74-51 lead heading into the fourth.
The Junior Warriors kept UPIS in check throughout the payoff period, leaning on a Louie Bual layup, a Sizco Roquid floater, and a basket by Aguas to maintain an 84-61 cushion with 4:04 left on the clock.
“Sinabi ko from the get-go na this is a good test for us, yung magiging test namin dito is our discipline and our consistency. We are not underestimating UPIS. Ang ginawa kong challenge ay dito kasi makikita kung gaano tayo kadisiplinado at consistent,” UE head coach Karl Santos said.
“Yung pinakita namin kanina, gigil ‘eh. I think we showed a lot of bad habits because of eagerness to steal the ball, mas malaki kami — ‘yon yung mga nakita namin as coaches na talagang kulang pa kami,” he added.
“For us, I think if we really want to make it to the Final or even win it all, I think ang formula namin is discipline and consistency.”
Aguas powered the Junior Warriors with 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting, along with 15 rebounds and two blocks. Roquid added 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and stuffed the stat sheet with four rebounds, four assists, four steals, and one block.
Diaz finished with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one block, while Abellar and Eoin Braga contributed eight points apiece.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Dabao led De La Salle Zobel in the loss with 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting, along with seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Favis chipped in 14 points and one rebound.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Hallare carried the fight for UPIS with 32 points on 8-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, in addition to 10 rebounds and two steals. Bruce Tubongbanua was limited to 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting with six turnovers but added four rebounds and four assists.
Kean Poquiz chipped in 12 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while Pascual ended with seven points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
The Scores:
Third Game
Ateneo (80) – Leal 19, Banal 17, Kallos 11, Espinas 11, Eriobu 9, Lacsamana 7, Aquino 6, Gatmaitan 0, Molina 0, Kaw 0, Reyes 0, Magpoc 0, Madrangca 0.
DLSZ (65) – Dabao 24, Favis 14, Luna 7, Alpapara 6, Borrero 6, Arejola 5, Mikailu 2, Tan 1, Atienza 0, Llamas 0, Ferrer 0, Dimayuga 0.
Quarterscores: 28-16, 46-29, 63-43, 80-65.
Fourth Game
UE (92) – Aguas 19, Roquid 14, Diaz 10, Abellar 8, Braga 8, Timbol 7, Bual 6, Panganiban 4, Edoukou 4, Orca 3, Oraa 3, Delos Reyes 2, Copada 2, Pascual 2, Lorenzo 0.
UPIS (72) – Hallare 32, Tubongbanua 13, Poquiz 12, Pascual 7, M. Rosete 5, Lugatiman 3, Addatu 0, Hernandez 0, Labao 0, Cobico 0, Maguerra 0, J. Rosete 0.
Quarterscores: 23-15, 45-34, 74-51, 92-72.
