NU sends struggling Ateneo to its fifth straight UAAP loss

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The National University (NU) Bulldogs spoiled the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles’ hopes of returning to the win column during their UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament clash, 66-50, on Oct. 26, 2025, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

With the big-time win, the Bulldogs just handed the Blue Eagles their fifth consecutive UAAP loss while remaining at the helm of the UAAP tournament with an improved 7-2 win-loss record.

However, it wasn’t a walk in the park as the Jeff Napa-led NU had to climb back from an eight-point deficit, banking on a demoralizing 25-4 scoring run that stunned the boys from Katipunan.

From a 40-32 lead, the Blue Eagles lost control of the game after MVP candidate Jake Figueroa spearheaded the massive rally midway through the third quarter.

Ateneo’s eight-point advantage evaporated in a jiffy, courtesy of a difficult off-balanced leaner from Figueroa and a power move inside the shaded lane from PJ Palacielo.

All hell broke loose during the pivotal fourth quarter as NU’s guards torched Ateneo from downtown, led by the one-two punch of Reinhard Jumamoy and Steve Nash Enriquez.

The Blue Eagles had several chances to inch close and keep themselves within striking distance but struggled to find the mark when they needed to convert a bucket.

NU then completely stole the momentum when Figueroa ballooned their lead to double digits, backstopped by a wave of paint baskets that shut down any comeback attempt from the Blue Eagles.

The Bulldogs started the game hot, but the Blue Eagles responded in the final four minutes of the second quarter with a personal scoring rampage from Kymani Ladi.

Ladi picked up where he left off and maintained his stroke at the start of the third frame, but NU’s resiliency rose to the occasion en route to a sweeping 2-0 head-to-head UAAP elimination phase win over Ateneo.

Figueroa boosted his chances of winning this year’s MVP after putting up a masterclass outing of 17 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.

Meanwhile, the trio of Enriquez, Jumamoy, and Jolo Manansala each chipped in eight markers, while Palacielo added seven points.

The Bulldogs will gun for their eighth UAAP win on Nov. 2 against the rolling De La Salle University, while Ateneo seeks to keep its season alive on Nov. 5 against the University of the East.