National University (NU) leaned on Paul Francisco’s hot hands in overtime to overcome gritty Ateneo de Manila University, 71-66, and close the first round on top of the standings in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Francisco scored all of his team’s 10 points in the extension, banging in three triples, including the go-ahead trey and dagger three-pointer with 38.1 seconds remaining to steer the Bulldogs clear of danger with a five-point cushion on their way to a third straight win.

“It feels great. As a team we wanted to end the first round really good, and today we showed that,” said Francisco, who finished with 13 points on 4-of-9 field goal shooting.

NU has reached a milestone as its 6-1 win-loss record is the school’s best first-round finish in the Final Four era.

“We’re just excited for the second round because we got some momentum going into the second round,” added Francisco, whose made baskets all came from long range.

The Bulldog squandered an 18-point second quarter lead and allowed the Jared Bahay and Divine Adili-less Blue Eagles mount a comeback and force an extra five minutes.

NU found itself down, 65-66, with 1:43 left in overtime after a strong drive and layup by Shawn Tuano.

Tebol Garcia then found an open Francisco for the trey that regained the lead for the Bulldogs. Ateneo came empty-handed in its possession as Francisco hit another long bomb.

Jadem Lazo missed a three for the Blue Eagles but still got some opening to salvage the game when Mun Dela Cruz and Jolo Manansala bricked all of their free throws. However, Ian Espinosa couldn’t find his mark from the outside as NU escaped with the victory.

Jake Figueroa had a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds while Steve Nash Enriquez and Omar John added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs, who lost Reinhard Jumamoy to an apparent shoulder injury in the first quarter.

Ateneo absorbed a third straight defeat and fourth straight overtime following a triple OT loss to University of Santo Tomas the last time out for a 4-3 card.

Lazo had 17 points while Tuano, whose triple with 8.3 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 61 and eventually forced overtime, finished with 15 markers.

Dom Escobar flirted with a triple-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to go with five steals while Espinosa scored 10 in a lost cause for the Blue Eagles, who sat out Bahay due to a shoulder injury he sustained last game.

The scores:

NU (71) — Figueroa 13, Francisco 13, Enriquez 12, John 11, Manansala 9, Santiago 7, Jumamoy 3, Palacielo 2, Garcia 1, Dela Cruz 0, Padrones 0, Tulabut 0, Parks 0.      

Ateneo (66) — Lazo 17, Tuano 15, Escobar 14, Espinosa 10, Ladi 9, Ong 1, Bongo 0, Lazaro 0, Nieto 0, Espina 0, Gamber 0.   

Quarters: 19-11, 34-22, 48-40, 61-61, 71-66.