From Jake Figueroa’s all-around brilliance to Angel Surada’s two-way dominance, National University (NU) proved to a highly competitive University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) landscape why it remains a force to be reckoned with in the second round of Season 88 collegiate basketball wars.

Figueroa rose to the occasion to power the Bulldogs’ bounce-back victory against Ateneo de Manila University following a close loss to defending champions University of the Philippines, while Surada starred in back-to-back triumphs over University of the East and the Blue Eagles to earn them Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Players of the Week citations presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the period of 22 to 26 October.

Eager to atone for a narrow 74-78 loss to the University of the Philippines (UP) last Wednesday, Figueroa refused to let NU suffer the same fate against Ateneo — flaunting his all-around play with 17 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block to steer the Bulldogs back on the winning track on Sunday.

Over the week’s span, the Minalin, Pampanga native averaged 17.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks — a pivotal factor as NU solidified its hold on solo first place in the eight-team field with a 7-2 win-loss card — creating a one-game cushion over closest rival UP (6-3).

“We’re just staying composed. Even if they’re ahead, we don’t get rattled. I think that’s the secret to our victory,” Figueroa said, who bested the De La Salle University duo JC Macalalag and Earl Abadam as well as Adamson University center Cedrick Manzano, and UP floor general Rey Remogat for the weekly citation.

Over in the women’s division, Surada’s stellar performance over the week — posting averages of 16 points, 12 rebounds, 6.5 steals, and 1.5 assists — allowed the Lady Bulldogs to roll towards their sixth consecutive victory and cement their grip on solo second place with a 7-1 slate.

The Gilas Women forward registered 10 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, and two steals in NU’s 31-point, 84-53 rout of winless UE on Wednesday, and followed it up with a near triple-double outing of 22 points, 11 steals, nine rebounds, and one assist in a commanding 69-47 victory over perennial contender on Ateneo on Sunday.

For Surada, her performance was simply a reflection of NU’s core identity — defense first — a crucial factor in the Lady Bulldogs’ success in UAAP women’s basketball over the past decade.

“Our coaches have been telling us, especially during halftime, that we should tighten our defense because it fuels our offense,” said Surada, who edged out teammate Tin Cayabyab, University of Santo Tomas guard Brigette Santos, Ateneo’s reigning two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Kacey Dela Rosa, and Far Eastern University’s Yvette Villanueva to earn the weekly citation.