Mike Malonzo led from the front for the NU Bulldogs with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, while John Lloyd Clemente also chipped in 12 markers in the win as NU improved to a 4-3 win-loss record.

The Bulldogs shifted to high gears and wasted little time as the team racked on an 11-0 start and carried the momentum in the second canto to build a 25-point advantage, 38-13.

Coming into the third period, the Red Warriors unloaded a 7-0 run that pulled them back within 16, 44-28, but the Bulldogs unleashed a 16-2 run in response to push their lead to 30 points, 60-30.

The UE Red Warriors continued to struggle after losing its seventh straight game and even had an embarrassing error after Orin Catacutan scored on the opponent’s basket at the 3:56 mark of the third frame.

John Galinato had nine points-all on triples to go with five rebounds, Patrick Yu finished with eight points, while Reyland Torres and Jonas Tibayan added seven points apiece.

Meanwhile, Kyle Paranada paced UE with 12 points, while Orin Catacutan and Jeremy Cruz added 11 and 10 points, respectively, in the loss that succumbed them to a 0-7 slate.

The Scores:

NU 77 – Malonzo 12, Clemente 12, Galinato 9, Yu 8, Torres 7, Tibayan 7, Manansala 6, Enriquez 4, Minerva 4, Ildefonso 3, Joson 3, Felicilda 2, Figueroa 0, Flores 0, Mahinay 0.

UE 61 – K. Paranada 12, Catacutan 11, J. Cruz 10, Pagsanjan 7, Escamis 6, Antiporda 5, Sawat 4, Tulabut 4, Guevarra 2, Abatayo 0, N. Paranada 0, Beltran 0, Villanueva 0, Lorenzana 0.

Quarters: 22-9, 44-21, 68-39, 77-61.