Patrick Yu and Steve Nash Enriquez helped National University stun defending champion Ateneo in the closing period for a blowout 77-64 win in the opening day of the first round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

The Bulldogs were not only ahead almost entirely throughout the match, but they also heavily relied on their fourth-quarter run to blast the Blue Eagles for a 1-0 winning start. 

Yu had 12 points on a decent 3-of-4 shooting clip from outside, while Enriquez had 10 points of his own. 

After leading in only a single-digit at the end of the third quarter, NU managed to keep Ateneo behind and even led by as much as 20 points at the tail end of the game. 

The Blue Eagles were limited in the offensive end for most of the fourth quarter before Sean Quitevis fired their first field goal at 3:38 on a layup, 52-70. 

However, Ateneo’s fightback was a little too late as NU had already run away with the momentum and eventually the victory. 

“Nakatsamba lang kami. Pero pagpapatuloy pa naman tong laro para makapag bigay kami ng magandang performance,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa. 

Three Blue Eagles had a double-digit finish, with Quitevis and Gab Gomez scoring 12 points apiece, while Ian Espiñosa added 10 points.  

Ateneo is off to its worst start in recent history with a 0-1 slate. 

The scores:

NU (77) -- Yu 12, Enriquez 10, Padrones 9, Manansala 8, Palacielo 8, John 7, Figueroa 7, Malonzo 6, Lim 6, Baclaan 4, Jumamoy 0, Casinillo 0, Delos Reyes 0, Gulapa 0, Parks 0, Galinato 0.

Ateneo (64) -- Gomez 12, Quitevis 12, Espinosa 10, Lazaro 6, Bongo 5, Credo 4, Koon 4, Ballungay 4, Brown 3, Amos 0, Obasa 0, Chiu 0, Nieto 0, Celis 0.

Quarterscores: 23-15, 36-32, 55-47, 77-64