By Maxine Agno

The Ateneo Blue Eagles opened the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 with a stinging 78–81 loss to the National University Nazareth School (NUNS) Bullpups on Sunday, February 8, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The game began as a tactical back-and-forth, with NUNS’ Mot Matias opening the scoring with a layup following a tip-off won by Moussa Diakite. Ateneo responded immediately as Noah Banal drained a three-pointer off a crisp assist from Zane Kallos to take an early 3–2 lead. 

The first half remained a battle of attrition, characterized by defensive stops and secondary efforts, including key rebounds from Jude Eriobu and Unri Madrangca.

As the intensity peaked in the second period, the Blue Eagles found their rhythm from the perimeter. Jay M Leal and Eriobu both connected on jump shots fueled by assists from Renzo Gatmaitan. The blue wall defense began to tighten, highlighted by Eriobu protecting the rim with five blocks on the day.

Ateneo’s offense was firing on multiple cylinders, led by the aggressive play of Ziv Espinas and Madrangca, who both dropped 18 points. Banal also provided a significant spark with 15 points, while Eriobu anchored the middle with a solid 13-point outing.

While the external pressure of the second round mounts, the Blue Eagles are leaning on a culture that prioritizes family and internal standards over the noise of the crowd.

“This team really feels like family, even though we’ve only been together for a short span of time,” shared Banal, who ranks 10th in the league with 64.571 statistical points (SPs). “The coaches helped me adjust and fix my mentality when it comes to playing … they’ve been encouraging me and it’s really good.”

“When I first stepped on the court, I was [a] little bit nervous … [It was my] first UAAP [match] and the crowd was like a march and stuff like that, with the noise,” Eriobu shared. “But I get hold of myself and I play.”

Eriobu, who currently leads the league with 105.857 SPs, credits the coaching staff for his rapid improvement, particularly at the free-throw line. 

Beyond the stats, he feels a deep connection to the team’s historic milestones, such as beating the Far Eastern University-Diliman (FEU-D) for the first time in years. “It means a lot … we came into the system to help them get the win and we did it together.”

For Banal, staying grounded despite the attention of being a top-ten performer comes down to a simple, disciplined philosophy.

“Our mentality is always like the next game is zero,” Banal explained. “It’s like a championship game every single round. That’s what keeps us grounded … having the mentality of being the underdog helps us get it done.”

The Blue Eagles must now recalibrate. After seeing how quickly a lead can evaporate, the focus shifts back to the clinical execution that defined their dominant first-round run.

The squad now looks to bounce back by defeating the University of the East (UE) in their rematch on Sunday, February 15, at the same venue.