Ateneo de Manila University extended its strong start in the UAAP Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament, cruising past National University Nazareth School, 86-63, to remain unbeaten at 4-0 on Thursday afternoon at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Nigerian center Jude Eriobu spearheaded the Blue Eagles’ performance with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 14 rebounds, five blocks, and one steal, while second-year center Jay-M Leal added 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block.
With contributions across the roster, Ateneo—fresh off wins against other contenders like the University of the East Junior Warriors and the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws—held sole possession of first place with a perfect record.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ken Atienza and Maco Dabao came up big in the clutch, hitting crucial baskets that sealed De La Salle Zobel’s 72-67 upset of defending champion University of Santo Tomas.
Under new head coach Bacon Austria, Ateneo is enjoying its finest start since UAAP Season 80 (2018) and has created significant separation from the eight-team field. The win dropped the Bullpups to a tie with the Junior Archers at 2-2.
“We’re happy, pero we’re not contented. Long season pa ito. 4-0 does not guarantee or mean anything. Masaya kami, pero marami pa kami kailangan ayusin,” Austria said.
“I just make sure that when we do those things, everyone is focused, and whoever I put in the court, should be ready. Kagaya today, Q Molina was sick, so Renzo Gatmaitan took the challenge of playing point sa second group, while EK Kaw stepped in as the two guard. Everyone is just ready,” he added.
Ateneo opened the game strong with a 25-15 first quarter and relied on Eriobu’s inside presence, two Henry Madrangca triples, and a Leal alley-oop to take a 46-29 lead into halftime.
NU briefly trimmed the gap to 49-36 early in the third, but Leal erupted for 10 points in a 15-4 Blue Eagles run that pushed the lead to 64-40. Ateneo put the game away with an and-one layup from YJ Lacsamana, a Noah Banal triple, and an Eriobu dunk, maintaining a 76-53 advantage with under five minutes left.
Banal finished with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting, six assists, two rebounds, and one steal, while Gatmaitan added 11 points and two rebounds. Madrangca contributed nine points and three rebounds, and Kallos recorded two points on 1-of-4 shooting but tallied 10 assists, seven rebounds, and one steal.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Shaun Lucido led NUNS with 18 points, three assists, and two steals, while Chad Cartel added 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Moussa Diakite chipped in 10 points, 18 rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and one assist, and Mot Matias finished with five points, six assists, and six steals in the Bullpups’ second straight defeat.
In the other game, Wacky Ludovice’s triple gave UST a brief 65-64 lead with 2:18 remaining, but Atienza answered with an and-one layup. Dabao then drove the full length of the court for an inside hit that restored DLSZ’s 69-65 lead with 48.1 seconds left.
UST stayed close as Jetlee Melano made a free throw to trim the deficit to 69-66 with 35.3 seconds left, but Dabao—an 18-year-old guard from Parañaque—showed composure from the charity stripe, sinking three of four free throws to secure the Junior Archers’ bounce-back victory.
Beyond Dabao and Atienza’s heroics, DLSZ held the Tiger Cubs to a woeful 20-of-62 (32.3%) shooting clip, forced 13 turnovers, and recorded 22 assists in the process.
“We had to respect them. Sabi ko nga nung second half, defending champions ‘yan. We know where the ball is gonna go. We know [Kirk] Canete and Ludovice will have their touches, so we just can’t limit those two. Kailangan yung other guys, like [Jetlee] Melano and [Charles] Esteban, malimit din,” said DLSZ head coach Gian Nazario.
Dabao led the Junior Archers with 18 points, five rebounds, and one steal, while Atienza added 11 points, six assists, four rebounds, one steal, and one block. Nigerian center Yusuf Mikailu contributed 10 points, 18 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists, while Kio Favis and Mark Borrero added nine points each.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For UST, Ludovice paced the Tiger Cubs with 25 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Nigerian center Ola Ajani added 10 points and eight rebounds. Skipper Kirk Cañete finished with eight points, nine assists, three rebounds, and two steals before fouling out with 4.7 seconds left.
The Scores:
First Game:
DLSZ (72) – Dabao 18, Atienza 11, Mikailu 10, Favis 9, Borrero 9, Arejola 7, Luna 4, Tan 2, Alpapara 2, Llamas 0, Dimayuga 0.
UST (67) – Ludovice 25, Ajani 10, Canete 8, Melano 8, Esteban 5, Sta. Maria 4, Bathan 2, Lapastora 2, Pulongbarit 2, Canapi 1, Candare 0, Vidanes 0, Bandigan 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17, 38-35, 52-50, 72-67.
Second Game:
Ateneo (86) – Eriobu 21, Banal 15, Leal 15, Gatmaitan 11, Madrangca 9, Kaw 4, Lacsamana 4, Kallos 2, Espinas 2, Jazul 2, Juangco 1, Aquino 0.
NUNS (63) – Lucido 18, Cartel 13, Diakite 10, M. Matias 5, Cabantog 5, Bouzina 5, Tulabut 3, Juan 2, Figueroa 2, R. Matias 0, Celiz 0, Natinga 0, Timbang 0.
Quarterscores: 25-15, 46-29, 64-43, 86-63.
