National University gifted head coach Jeff Napa a winning birthday celebration, stomping the University of the East, 76-56, in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

The Bulldogs notched their first win of the season to level their record at 1-1, tying the idle University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and De La Salle Green Archers, who defeated NU, 89-87, on opening day.

Despite the victory, Napa remained dissatisfied with his team’s performance, pointing out that the Bulldogs took their foot off the gas in the third quarter, allowing UE to outscore them, 20-12.

“Hindi ito dapat ‘yung resulta na gusto namin mangyari. This game, especially nung third quarter, medyo nagrelax eh. Yun ang kailangan namin maaddress next game against UP para ready kami talaga,” said Napa, who celebrated his 45th birthday.

Trailing throughout the second half, the Red Warriors gained some momentum after consecutive baskets from Lance Sabroso, Tope Lagat, and Mo Tañedo cut the deficit to 12 with 4:35 remaining, 63-51.

However, that was as close as UE could get. Mo Diassana, DJ Laconsay, PJ Palacielo, and Tebol Garcia answered with eight unanswered points to restore NU’s 20-point cushion with 2:29 left, 71-51.

“Malaking boost ito sa amin para sa next game. Itong game na ito, makakatulong sa amin para makabalik kami sa kung ano [talaga kami],” said Kenshin Padrones, who stood out with 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting and seven rebounds.

In his second game back after recovering from a knee injury he sustained two years ago, Diassana continued to make an impact for the Bulldogs, posting 12 points and 12 rebounds while finishing with a game-high plus-28 in 27 minutes and six seconds of action. He recorded the same stat line against the Green Archers.

Reinhard Jumamoy also contributed 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while Palacielo added nine points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

Meanwhile, the Red Warriors’ slump extended to 22 straight games as they fell to 0-2 this season.

Nigerian big man Ola Ajani led UE in his collegiate debut with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. Ivorian center JM Edoukou also saw action as the Red Warriors’ foreign student-athlete.

Lagat likewise finished with 11 points in the loss.

Both teams will return to action next Saturday for the men’s triple-header at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. UE will face Far Eastern University at 2:30 p.m., before NU takes on the University of the Philippines at 6 p.m.