By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
National University kicked off its campaign in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament in style with a commanding 72-57 victory over University of the East at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena on Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Bulldogs whipped up a third-quarter storm by outscoring the Warriors, 20-11, to pad their lead to 59-45 and coasted to a trouble-free win to join the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the De La Salle Green Archers in the win column.
Jake Figueroa paced NU with 16 points, six rebounds and five steals in 21 minutes of action, while Paul Francisco added 12 points spiked by two triples on top of four boards.
But the day belonged to host University of Santo Tomas.
The UST Tigers made their campaign felt with an 87-67 statement victory over University of the Philippines (UP).
The Tigers displayed their dominance early after rushing to a 31-19 first-quarter lead and never relinquished with Collins Akowe at the forefront of their assault.
The win was UST’s first against UP since the step-ladder semifinals in 2019.
Akowe, the 6-foot-10 Nigerian bruiser, exploded for 29 points and hauled 15 rebounds in 31 minutes of action. He got reinforcements from Kyle Paranada, who stepped up with 18 points, and Nic Cabanero and Gelo Crisostomo, who combined for 17 points.
It was a stinging loss for UP, which tasted its first defeat in a season opener since bowing to Ateneo three years ago.
Kenshin Padrones also shone for the Bulldogs with a near double-double performance of 10 points and nine rebounds.
Precious Momowei bannered UE with a double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds, while John Abate was held to just 10 points.
Earlier, defending champion University of Santo Tomas and last season’s runner-up NU opened their campaign style by smashing their respective rivals in the junior high school boys division.
The Tiger Cubs clobbered the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) Junior Fighting Maroons, 114-61, while the Bullpups routed the University of the East Junior Warriors, 86-64.
Miguel Jubilado starred for the España-based crew by unloading 24 points, five rebounds, seven assists and five steals, even as CJ Tabbuga 19 points.
Rowie Cabañero also had a double-double effort of 18 points and 11 assists on top of five rebounds and three steals for UST.
Like the Tiger Cubs, the Bullpups were equally dominating, holding the Junior Warriors to only nine points in the third quarter while leading by as many as 33 points, 74-41, after a Dwayne Enriquez jumper in the last 9:03 of the game.
Four players scored in double figures for NU with Moussa Diakite pacing the squad with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Mark Arzola and David Sabareza contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively, while Nick Peña chipped in 10 points.
