NU rides second-half breakaway, deals Ateneo 5th straight loss

The NU Bulldogs defeated the Ateneo Blue Eagles 66-50 in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Sunday, October 26, marking a comeback victory after NU's previous loss to the UP Fighting Maroons.

After trailing 32-40 in the third quarter, the Bulldogs unleashed a 14-0 run, spearheaded by Jake Figueroa, to take a 46-40 lead entering the fourth period. Despite Ateneo briefly narrowing the gap to 46-42, NU responded with an 11-2 surge, capped by a crucial three-pointer from Paul Francisco, to secure the win and complete a season sweep of Ateneo.

Jake Figueroa led NU with an all-around performance of 17 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, supported by teammates Jolo Manansala, Steve Nash Enriquez, and PJ Palacielo, who each contributed 8 points. NU head coach Jeff Napa credited the team's resilience, emphasizing their ability to bounce back collectively.

With this win, NU improved their league-best record to 7-2, while Ateneo suffered their fifth consecutive loss after starting the season 4-0. Key scorers for Ateneo included Kymani Ladi with 12 points and Andrew Bongo with 9 points and 9 rebounds.