After absorbing its first loss last Saturday, National University bounced back in a big way, trouncing luckless University of Santo Tomas, 87-69, in the UAAP Season 86 Men's Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Wednesday.

The Bulldogs retained solo second with a 3-1 slate, just behind tormentor and league-leader University of the Philippines at 4-0.

"It all boils down sa mga players, how they perform. Sila yung gumawa ng game plan, hindi naman ako. It's up to them how will they deliver," said Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa. "Hindi naman talaga ako gumawa ng game plan kahit tanong niyo sa kanila dahil nilayasan ko sila kahapon. It's all them talaga."

With the game tied at 12, the Bulldogs opened the floodgates, ending the first quarter on a huge blast while limiting the Growling Tigers to just two points for an imposing 30-14 lead entering the second.

NU then started the second frame strongly with Kean Baclaan leading the way for a 24-point, 40-16, advantage. Sixteen would be the closest UST could get the rest of the way.

Balanced was the offense of the Bulldogs anew with Mike Malonzo scoring 14, Jolo Manansala adding 13, and Jake Figueroa chipping in 11 points.

Steve Nash Enriquez delivered 10 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while John Galinato gathered nine points, four rebounds, and four assists and a game-high plus-27 in 15 minutes and five seconds.

NU will next face De La Salle University on Sunday.

The Growling Tigers dropped to 0-4, tied with Far Eastern University at the bottom. This was their 17th straight defeat dating back to last season.

Christian Manaytay paced UST with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Nic Cabañero got 16 points and five rebounds. The two combined for nine of the team's 19 turnovers.

The Growling Tigers schedule will not get easier any moment as they will next meet the Fighting Maroons on Saturday then the reigning champion Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday.

The Scores:

NU 87 – Malonzo 14, Manansala 13, Figueroa 11, Enriquez 10, Galinato 9, Baclaan 7, Palacielo 4, John 4, Jumamoy 4, Delos Reyes 4, Lim 4, Parks 3, Gulapa 0.

UST 69 – Manaytay 18, Cabañero 16, Crisostomo 8, Calum 7, Llemit 7, Pangilinan 5, Laure 4, Lazarte 2, Manalang 1, Moore 1, Duremdes 0, Magdangal 0, Ventulan 0, Gesalem 0.

Quarterscores: 30-14, 48-26, 66-46, 87-69