Ateneo de Manila University extended its strong start, cruising past National University Nazareth School, 86-63, to remain unbeaten in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 boys’ basketball tournament on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Nigerian center Jude Eriobu spearheaded the Blue Eagles’ fourth straight victory after dropping 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 14 rebounds, five blocks, and one steal, while second-year center Jay-M Leal added 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block.

Meanwhile, Ken Atienza and Maco Dabao came up big in the clutch, hitting crucial baskets that sealed De La Salle Zobel’s 72-67 upset of defending champion University of Santo Tomas.

With contributions across the roster, Ateneo — fresh off wins against other contenders like University of the East and Far Eastern University-Diliman — held sole possession of first place with a perfect record.

Under new head coach Bacon Austria, Ateneo is enjoying its finest start since Season 80 in 2018 and has created significant separation from the eight-team field. The win dropped the Bullpups to a tie with the Junior Archers at 2-2.

“We’re happy but we’re not contented. It’s a long season. This 4-0 record doesn’t guarantee anything. We’re happy but we still have to fix a lot of things,” Austria, son of San Miguel Beer coach Leo Austria, said.

Ateneo opened the game strong with a 25-15 first quarter and relied on Eriobu’s inside presence, two Henry Madrangca triples, and a Leal alley-oop to take a 46-29 lead into halftime.

NU briefly trimmed the gap to 49-36 early in the third, but Leal erupted for 10 points in a 15-4 Blue Eagles run that pushed the lead to 64-40. Ateneo put the game away with an and-one layup from YJ Lacsamana, a Noah Banal triple, and an Eriobu dunk, maintaining a 76-53 advantage with under five minutes left.

Banal finished with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting, six assists, two rebounds, and one steal, while Gatmaitan added 11 points and two rebounds. Madrangca contributed nine points and three rebounds, and Kallos recorded two points on 1-of-4 shooting but tallied 10 assists, seven rebounds, and one steal.

Shaun Lucido led NUNS with 18 points, three assists, and two steals, while Chad Cartel added 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Moussa Diakite chipped in 10 points, 18 rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and one assist, and Mot Matias finished with five points, six assists, and six steals in the Bullpups’ second straight defeat

In the other game, Wacky Ludovice’s triple gave UST a brief 65-64 lead with 2:18 remaining, but Atienza answered with an and-one layup before Dabao drove the full length of the court for an inside basket that restored DLSZ’s 69-65 lead with 48.1 seconds left.

UST stayed close as Jetlee Melano made a free throw to trim the deficit to 69-66 with 35.3 seconds left, but Dabao — an 18-year-old guard from Parañaque — showed composure from the charity stripe, sinking three of four free throws to secure the Junior Archers’ bounce-back victory.