UNIVERSITY of the Philippines seized the solo lead, while defending champion Ateneo stumbled to its second loss in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Small Araneta Coliseum.

Rookie Francis Lopez played his best game of the season as the Fighting Maroons became the only unbeaten team of the season following a 78-60 romp of National University in a rematch of last year’s Final Four.

Birthday boy Vince Magbuhos banked in a game-winning triple as Adamson posted its second straight overtime win, this time at the expense of the Blue Eagles, 74-71.

Later, La Salle rebounded from its loss to fabled rival Ateneo with a wire-to-wire 91-71 win over University of Santo Tomas to force a three-way tie in second place at 2-1, while sending the Growling Tigers to their third consecutive loss under returning coach Pido Jarencio.

The 6-foot-6 Lopez finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and was a +34 on the court to lead UP to its third consecutive victory.

“He’s an athletic guy, he’s talented but ever since magkasama kami, nakita ko yung value niya as a team player,” said Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde on Lopez. “Seeing the floor, getting everybody involved at the same time in offense and defense — ang laki ng impact niya sa amin.”

UP may have posted its most lopsided victory of the season, but for Monteverde, there’s a lot of polishing to do if it wants to remain on top.

“This is a good win for us in terms of early on yung puwede namin i-grow as a team,” said Monteverde. “As much as, you know, we’re really happy for this win, we have to keep level like third game pa lang ng season to. We just have to keep on improving pa rin.”

Jake Figueroa paced the Bulldogs with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Blue Eagles, still reeling with the key losses from last season’s championship, dropped to 1-2 at the end of the first week of competitions.

Off a timeout, Magbuhos received the ball at the top of the three-point arc from Didat Hanapi and made the winning basket after one dribble as time expired for the Falcons’ only lead of the game, also a rematch of last season’s Final Four.

Following up last Wednesday’s 79-76 victory over UST which also went to overtime, Adamson improved to 2-1 without its prized guard Jerom Lastimosa in a tie with NU and La Salle.

“I just want to thank Lord. Nagpray ako kaninang umaga, hiniling ko sa kanya kung meron man siyang ibibigay na gift ay yung panalo na lang,” said Magbuhos, who turned 24 yesterday.

It was the Falcons first win against the Blue Eagles since a stunning 74-70 opening day victory on Sept. 9, 2018, ending a streak of eight consecutive defeats.

Monty Montebon tied it for Adamson at 69-69 with a corner triple with 29.4 seconds left.

Opting to inbound at halfcourt not realizing they only have 14 seconds to run the play, the Blue Eagles were called for a shotclock violation, giving the Falcons a chance to win it in regulation.

But Joem Sabandal missed a lay-up in the dwindling seconds sending the game into overtime.

“When our game went into overtime, I huddled the boys and I told them, we just came from an overtime game so we are more experienced than them,” said Adamson coach Nash Racela.

Ced Manzano logged a double-double effort of 12 points and 12 rebounds, Eli Ramos also scored 12 points, while Magbuhos added 11 points, three assists and three boards for the Falcons.

Mason Amos had 12 points, six rebounds and two steals while Kai Ballungay chipped in 10 points, nine boards, three steals and three assists for Ateneo.

Kevin Quiambao and Josh David each scored 14 points for the Green Archers, who led by as much as 30 points.

“Guys really fought it out. They came into this game knowing how important this for us is not only as a team but as a program. Credit goes to my players,” said La Salle coach Topex Robinson.

Nic Cabañero was the lone double-digit scorer for the Growling Tigers with 25 points.

The scores:

First game

AdU (74) – Ramos 12, Manzano 12, Magbuhos 11, Hanapi 9, Yerro 8, Calisay 5, Montebon 5, Colonia 4, Anabo 3, Erolon 3, Sabandal 2, Ojarikre 0, Barasi 0.
Ateneo (71) – Amos 12, Ballungay 10, Koon 9, Nieto 9, Obasa 8, Brown 6, Bongo 6, Gomez 6, Espinosa 2, Credo 2, Quitevis 1, Chiu 0, Lazaro 0.
Quarterscores: 9-25, 29-44, 48-53, 69-69, 74-71

Second game

UP (78) – Lopez 14, Diouf 12, Cansino 12, Alarcon 10, Cagulangan 8, Torres 8, Abadiano 8, Felicilda 3, Pablo 2, Belmonte 1, Torculas 0, Alter 0, Gagate 0, Gonzales 0.
NU (60) – Figueroa 13, John 11, Palacielo 10, Baclaan 9, Yu 5, Malonzo 5, Jumamoy 4, Lim 2, Enriquez 1, Padrones 0, Manansala 0, Casinillo 0.
Quarterscores: 9-13, 30-25, 58-45, 78-60

Third Ggme

DLSU (91) – Quiambao 14, David 14, Manuel 11, Nelle 9, Policarpio 9, Nwankwo 8, M. Phillips 5, Austria 5, Escandor 5, Abadam 5, B. Phillips 4, Cortez 2, Macalalag 0, Gollena 0, I. Phillips 0.
UST (71) – Cabañero 25, Pangilinan 8, Manaytay 7, Laure 6, Duremdes 6, Manalang 5, Crisostomo 4, Calum 3, Gesalem 3, Ventulan 2, Llemit 2, Moore 0, Magdangal 0, Lazarte 0, Faye 0.
Quarterscores: 22-11, 47-36, 73-50, 91-71.