Noah Banal and Jay-m Leal combined for 36 points as Ateneo de Manila University dominated De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ), 80-65, to remain the only unbeaten team after three games in the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball tournament on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

Leal scored 19 points with three rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Banal added 17 points, five rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Their performance helped Ateneo seize sole possession of first place in the eight-team field.

The Blue Eagles moved ahead following their third straight win and National University Nazareth School’s loss to Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) earlier in the day.

This also marked Ateneo’s first 3-0 start in UAAP boys’ basketball in seven years, dating back to Season 80 in 2018, when the SJ Belangel-led Blue Eagles swept the 14-game elimination round before winning the championship series.

In other action, Ethan Aguas and the University of the East defeated Jhustin Hallare’s 32-point effort, 92-72, to improve to 2-1 and share second place with NUNS and FEU-D.

Under new head coach Bacon Austria, Ateneo has remained perfect. Austria emphasized a game-by-game approach. “We’re just taking it one game at a time. We reset every game. It’s early, but it’s hard to be on top and harder to stay on top. The mindset every game is 0-0,” he said.

Ateneo took control early with a 28-16 first quarter—Leal and Banal each scoring 11 points—then extended their lead with a 16-8 run in the second quarter to lead 46-29 at halftime.

The Blue Eagles kept the momentum in the second half, reaching a 20-point advantage, 63-43, entering the fourth quarter. The Junior Archers staged a brief comeback with a layup from Maco Dabao and back-to-back triples from Champ Arejola and Kio Favis, narrowing the gap to 72-59. However, timely baskets from YJ Lacsamana, Leal, and Zane Kallos sealed Ateneo’s third straight win.

Kallos contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while Espinas added 11 points, three rebounds, two steals, and an assist. Nigerian center Jude Eriobu scored nine points on 3-of-8 shooting but grabbed 17 rebounds and had two steals. Lacsamana finished with seven points and five rebounds.

Dabao led DLSZ with 24 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while Favis added 14 points.