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CEBU CITY -The devastating Cebu earthquake that recently jolted parts of the province and neighboring localities has prompted the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant to cancel its preliminary competition that involved the swimsuit and evening gown events in favor of relief operations.

The crucial stage of the pageant was originally scheduled on Friday, Oct. 3, in Lapu-Lapu City. There, the delegates were to be judged in their swimming attire and evening wear, and score points that will help them clinch a semifinal spot.

‘Miss Asia Pacific International stands with Cebu after last night’s earthquake. The preliminary competition has been cancelled out of respect for those affected at this time, our focus is on compassion, safety, and solidarity,’ the pageant posted on social media on Wednesday evening, Oct. 1.

‘True transformation is found not only in pageantry, but in rising together through challenges with empathy, strength, and unity,’ the statement continued. Images posted on the pageant’s social media pages showed several delegates packing rice at a warehouse to be given to victims of the calamity.

On Tuesday evening, Sept. 30, on the delegates’ first day in the province, the pageant held its benefit gala night at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City. Just as the program was about to close, it was halted by a 6.9-magnitude earthquake with the epicenter traced to Bogo City.

Hours after the incident, the pageant issued a statement assuring the public that the delegates and members of the organization were ‘safe and secure.’

In a succeeding statement released Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 1, the Miss Asia Pacific International pageant said it was realigning the delegates’ activities ‘in a spirit of compassion and solidarity’ with the province of Cebu.

The international pageant said the delegates ‘will devote their time and influence’ to relief and fundraising events and initiatives, awareness and empowerment, and solidarity events and programs.

‘Through compassion, purpose, and action, Miss Asia Pacific International reaffirms its commitment to its international and local partners-to serve not only in times of celebration, but most importantly, in times of need,’ the statement said.

In the most recent statement on the cancelation of the preliminary competition, the organizers said, ‘we believe it would not be appropriate to hold a celebratory event at this time, as our focus must be on compassion, safety and solidarity.’

Another event that was cancelled was the scheduled press presentation on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 1, at the Cebu Provincial Capitol. The delegates instead volunteered to pack relief goods at the province’s warehouse.

Lawyer and beauty queen Eva Patalinjug-Lim, the pageant’s president, oversaw the delegates at the relief center. ‘I toured around when I arrived, I toured and asked the candidates how they are, and they said they had no sleep, just like me. But they’re still here because they want to help,’ she said.

‘This day was supposed to be their rest day. I intended it to be the rest day and canceled the press con because I wanted mental and physical rest for them,’ she added.

‘We just asked the candidates who are willing to volunteer, we’re not forcing anyone to do relief packing. But I’m really glad of the turnout because they volunteered from their heart. It’s not because they’re candidates, but because this is volunteer work, they listed their names to be here, so I’m thankful for the candidates,’ Patalinjug continued.

People of a certain age can still vividly recall the legendary bout between bitter rivals and boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier that was held on Oct. 1, 1975, at Araneta Coliseum.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest fights of all time, the duel that saw Muhammad Ali coming out on top brought international attention to the Philippines and cemented The Big Dome’s legacy as a world-class venue Fifty years later, Araneta Coliseum remains one of Asia’s largest indoor arenas and one of the world’s largest clear span domes, with a maximum seating capacity of 20,000.

Since opening in 1960-a brainchild of Araneta Group visionary J. Amado Araneta-the coliseum has hosted various world-class events, from world-title boxing matches to international concerts and a whole slew of sporting events.

Thus, it is but right that Araneta City has been chosen as the centerpiece venue for the nationwide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the iconic Thrilla in Manila, a commemoration led by the Philippine Sports Commission. Araneta City will mark the special occasion by holding immersive exhibits in the Big Dome lobby and hosting live boxing exhibitions on Oct 29 featuring top fighters from around the world, in a bid to bring back the spirit of the original ‘Thrilla,’ the group said.

‘This year is really special for us,’ said Irene Jose, COO of Uniprom Inc., the entertainment arm of Araneta City. ‘The Smart Araneta Coliseum has been part of so many unforgettable stories, from legendary concerts to historic fights. We’re proud to be the venue where the Thrilla in Manila happened, and we’re honored to be at the heart of its 50th anniversary celebration.’ -Tina Arceo-Dumlao

McDo deals with Cebu quake

Updated on Oct. 2, 2025 at 8 a.m.

The 6.9-magnitude earthquake that devastated Cebu on Tuesday has led to the closure of a few of McDonald’s branches.

In a statement on Wednesday, the fast-food chain said McDonald’s Bogo sustained ‘major damage’ and remained closed, while other stores (JY Square, North Reclamation and Jones) had resumed operations after minor repairs.

The Il Corso branch remained safe and also opened its doors again after safety checks were conducted.

Only two stores – Bogo and Carcar – remained close as of Wednesday afternoon.

‘All other McDonald’s stores in Cebu are open and continue to serve customers and communities,’ the company said in a statement.

McDonald’s, which has 36 branches across Cebu, is also serving hot meals to frontliners and communities affected by the earthquake. -Meg J. Adonis There’s an imposter lurking among us, and it’s impersonating the operator of the local bourse-during a challenging time for the market at that!

The Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. (PSE) on Tuesday issued a memorandum warning against a fraudulent website shown to be using the company’s name, logo and its officers to supposedly promote a trading platform.

According to PSE, thepseinc.com was also offering market analysis and investment guides, along with an investment portal that ‘lures people’ to create their own accounts.

Users are supposedly asked to provide their personal information and register for a subscription to a sham investment tool and other offerings.

‘We would like to inform the public that such a website is clearly fake and unauthorized by the PSE,’ it said.

For regular visitors of the actual PSE website-www.pse.com.ph-they can clearly see that it does not operate an investment portal nor does it solicit subscriptions.

Naturally, PSE also encouraged the public to be cautious and verify the legitimacy of anything they may see online that claim to be affiliated with the company.

The government has not yet made any contingency plan in the event that arrest warrants are issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday.

‘We have yet to talk about it. I do not think they want to leave the country. We will cross the bridge when we get there,’ Remulla told reporters.

Remulla made the statement after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV revealed that arrests warrants against Senators Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and Christopher ‘Bong’ Go may be issued early next year.

Trillanes recently returned to the country from The Hague after attending the 10th Seminar on Cooperation last September 16 to 18 at the ICC.

He is among the first to initiate the case for crimes against humanity against the former President.

The 80-year-old Duterte is currently in ICC custody after he was arrested in Manila last March on charges of crimes against humanity stemming from the brutal crackdown on illegal drugs.

The government said more than 6 000 people were killed in Duterte’s anti-drug war , though local and international human rights groups have a higher figure.

Much has been said about women’s strength and resilience in the face of adversity, but women are also more prone to certain types of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and perinatal and post-partum depression.

The causes are varied, ranging from physiological to psychosocial and societal. Factors include poverty, abuse, trauma, and even the isolation that comes with caregiving responsibilities.

Social media plays a role, too, with unrealistic beauty standards and curated content that affect women and girls’ body image and personal satisfaction. Olivia Rodrigo’s song ‘Pretty Isn’t Pretty’ mirrors what it’s like for young women trying to conform to societal expectations pushed by the internet.

A 2025 study released in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology titled, ‘A Meta-analysis on Gender Differences in Prevalence Estimates of Mental Disorders following Exposure to Natural Hazards’ found that women were over 80 percent more likely to report post-traumatic stress, while over 50 percent were more likely to report major depression than men. As we live in a country reeling from a succession of tropical storms and floods, keeping women’s mental health in focus is vital in how households and communities recover and rebuild from natural disasters.

It is alarming to note that in September 2025 alone, there were two reports of women who attempted suicide by jumping off a bridge onto a busy highway. One incident was on an overpass along Edsa; the woman was saved just in time by an alert bystander. The second was on a bridge over the South Luzon Expressway. Motorists below held their breath as first responders swung into action, literally, on ropes to rescue her. I pray that they are getting the support they need.

Mental health is embedded in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3: good health and well-being. However, there are still gaps that need to be addressed, such as the lack of access to support and the stigma that is a barrier to treatment.

Spark! Philippines recognizes the need to address these gaps, along with the unique challenges faced by women. There is a need to create gender-specific policies that consider women’s needs, including access to specialized care and support networks through workplace and community support.

It starts with awareness and education. This will ease the stigma that prevents people from accessing help. It will dispel misconceptions, such that a depressed person is just ‘sad,’ or that someone with anxiety is just ‘overreacting,’ and they are told to ‘get over it,’ and other well-meaning but misguided advice.

We cannot afford to lose more lives to the stigma that persists in our society about mental health issues. We have to start putting more interventions in place to reach those who are experiencing mental health challenges at different stages of their lives.

We held a three-part series of ‘Spark! Conversations Mental Health Talk Series,’ focusing on the topics of single working mothers and the structural disadvantages they tend to experience. These include financial insecurity and lack of social support, and the struggles of balancing what they can offer to others while also looking after their own needs.

Spark! Philippines takes the conversation online, using its platforms, like Facebook, to remind the public of the importance of mental health, promote breaking stigma, and encourage listening and compassion as acts of hope.

To ensure that even the most marginalized sectors in our society have awareness and access to mental health education, we conducted outreach activities at the Quezon City Female Jail and the Correctional Institution for Women that included motivational talks to persons deprived of liberty, aside from the distribution of food packs and hygiene kits.

Then, of course, we continue to build on our women’s empowerment initiatives. Spark! Philippines supports women’s empowerment as a cross-cutting concern that impacts equity, economic progress, and health, and works to create opportunities for women’s financial independence.

Roy Dahildahil from #MentalHealthPH emphasizes that societal support and government policies are vital for mental health advocacy. ‘Awareness is the first crucial step toward mental well-being,’ he states. It serves as a lifeline for those who feel alone, creating spaces for healing and recovery.

Let’s advocate for compassion and understanding regarding mental health. Together, we can foster an environment free from stigma and encourage help-seeking behavior.

Start today by checking in with a woman in your life. A simple, sincere ‘Kumusta ka?’ could make all the difference.

Fifty years after the iconic ‘Thrilla in Manila’ bout between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at Araneta Coliseum, another heavyweight clash unfolded at the Big Dome-this time on the hardcourt.

Lyceum and Mapua, two title contenders in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament, traded blows in an instant classic that mirrored the grit of that historic 1975 boxing match. But instead of 14 brutal rounds, the Cardinals and Pirates battled through 50 grueling minutes and two overtimes.

On Wednesday, it was Mapua-last season’s champion-that played the role of Ali, emerging victorious with a 90-89 win to open their title defense.

‘We expected this game to be tough because Lyceum came prepared. We’re the defending champs-everyone wants to beat us,’ said JC Recto, who led Mapua with 16 points and nine rebounds. ‘All we focused on in overtime was staying composed and ready.’

In a fitting twist, Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao was in attendance to witness the league’s season opener-a nod to the boxing heritage of the venue.

Final blow

Recto delivered the killer punches when it mattered most. With Lyceum up 80-77 in the first overtime, the forward powered through contact for an and-one to tie the game with 34.6 seconds left.

He wasn’t done. In the second extra period, with Mapua trailing 87-84, Recto again muscled his way inside to knot the score at 87-all with 1:09 remaining.

‘I just let my instincts take over,’ he said. ‘Clint (Escamis) wasn’t there, but that didn’t mean we should focus on who was missing. I just did what the coaches asked.’

Escamis fouled out in regulation and finished with eight points.

The final blow came from rookie guard Cyrus Cuenco, who split his free throws with 12 seconds left-enough to give Mapua the edge it needed.

Cuenco finished with 14 points, while Earl Sapasap and Yam Concepcion added 16 and 13, respectively.

Despite a 23-point explosion from Renz Villegas and a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double from Michael Versoza, Lyceum fell short in its opener.

The Philippines may post a wider dollar deficit this year than earlier expected, as slowing global demand, weaker commodity prices and cooling domestic growth weigh on trade and tourism flows.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Friday that the country’s balance of payments (BOP) would likely swing to a $6.9-billion deficit in 2025, larger than its earlier $6.3-billion estimate.

The BOP, which tracks all foreign exchange inflows and outflows, has been largely negative this year. But it shifted to a surplus of $359 million in August, marking one of the few months when dollar inflows outpaced outflows.

Despite that reprieve, the central bank projected the overall position would stay in deficit through 2026, citing ‘sustained pressures on the current account.’ But the gap was forecast to narrow to $3.4 billion next year. Cushion

‘Infrastructure investments, potential trade diversion, and efforts to diversify export and import partners may help cushion external shocks,’ the BSP said.

‘However, structural constraints, such as logistical inefficiencies, skills mismatches, and elevated input costs, continue to weigh on export competitiveness,’ it added.

Fresh central bank estimates showed the current account balance-the broadest measure of trade because it includes investments-would post a deficit of $16.4 billion in 2025, equivalent to 3.3 percent of gross domestic product.

Broken down, goods exports were seen growing by 1 percent to $55.6 billion, while imports were seen rising by the same pace to $125.2 billion.

Services exports, meanwhile, would grow by 2 percent, a less optimistic outlook than the previous prediction of 6-percent growth. The downward revision was mainly due to slower growth of 1 percent seen for tourism receipts, from 10 percent before, amid ‘weakening inbound travel.’ Outsourcing outlook

The central bank retained its 5 percent growth outlook for outsourcing revenues but flagged risks from US ‘reshoring’ policies.

Overseas remittances are now projected to grow 3 percent, up slightly from an earlier 2.8 percent forecast, aided by strong labor demand abroad and steady use of formal transfer channels, even as a new US tax on remittances looms.

Inflation in the Philippines may have accelerated beyond 2 percent in September, driven by rising rice, fish and fuel costs, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said, though the central bank’s estimate showed that price growth was still likely to remain within its target range.

In a statement on Wednesday, the BSP predicted that the consumer price index may have settled between 1.5 and 2.3 percent last month.

This forecast suggested that the upcoming inflation number due on Oct. 7 may beat the 1.5-percent clip recorded in August Even so, the central bank expected price growth to stay within its 2 to 4 percent target range.

‘Upward price pressures for the month are likely to arise from higher prices of rice and fish. Elevated domestic fuel costs likewise contribute to upside price pressures for the month,’ the BSP said.

‘These pressures could be partially offset by the decline in vegetables and meat prices along with lower electricity rates,’ it added.

Policy steps

The stretch of subdued price gains could influence the central bank’s next policy steps.

Last August, the BSP trimmed its benchmark rate by a quarter point to 5 percent-a level Governor Eli Remolona Jr. described as ‘Goldilocks,’ neither too low to fuel inflation nor too high to choke economic growth. Market observers said the BSP’s easing cycle was close to running its course. But Remolona kept options open, signaling the Monetary Board could consider another reduction at its October or December meetings if demand shows signs of weakening.

Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong and Co., said inflation could remain below 2 percent for the rest of 2025, absent any major shocks.

‘For the remainder of the year, there is a chance inflation could edge higher with holiday demand, weather risks and movements in global oil prices,’ he added.

Eyes on next meeting

Aris Dacanay, economist at HSBC Global Investment Research, believed that the BSP may leave its policy rate unchanged at its Oct. 9 meeting, which would be a ‘tough call between a hawkish cut or a dovish hold.’

‘The only guidance provided by the BSP, so far, is that the central bank could lower interest rates in as early as October if there are signs that the economy is already losing momentum,’ Dacanay said in a commentary.

‘We think there is limited data to conclude with conviction that, indeed, the economy is slowing down. While consumer vehicle purchases are falling and government capital spending tightening, goods exports are still holding up,’ he added.

At first blush, it sounded as though outgoing Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was just being pleasant when he addressed Vice President Sara Duterte during China’s 76th founding anniversary and his farewell reception, ‘At this moment of parting, I bid farewell to VP Sara Duterte. Madam Vice President, thank you for your support and dedication to China-Philippines friendship. Hope our bilateral relations will get back to a sound and healthy track soon,’ he said.

But nothing is accidental in the geopolitical arena and in diplomacy. Every word is deliberate. And in the context of Philippines-China relations, especially our current rejection of the latter’s expansionist stance and its gray-zone tactics, the outgoing ambassador’s message is rife with meaning.

Huang’s words were not just polite farewell words of any ambassador about to leave his post. He looked upon and addressed the Vice President fondly and with effusive praise. Under the administration of the VP’s father, the Philippines adopted a policy of appeasement toward China. Between 2016 and 2022, Manila leaned away from its traditional partners toward accommodation of China, despite the maritime tensions it initiated. In fact, the former President Rodrigo Duterte declared that Philippine relations with China were at their best during his time.

The Chinese thus likely hoped that with the election of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Sara Duterte’s running mate, their happy days would continue. Sara Duterte as Vice President provided some hope that even with the change in administration, the Philippines would still accommodate China’s bullying. They expected a foothold in Philippine politics that can secure its strategic interests beyond the Duterte presidency.

But Marcos Jr. had a different policy altogether, even declaring that the Philippines would not surrender even a square inch of territory to any foreign power.

Getting back to a ‘sound and healthy track’ tells us that China sees the current relationship as unsound and unhealthy. The Marcos administration has visibly pushed back and resisted China’s attempts to assert its unfounded claims on our sovereignty, even going to the extent of spreading disinformation on the matter.

In pursuit of its own interests, China may be seeing this stance by the Philippines as offtrack, an aberration. It may be longing for the Dutertes as their preferred partners in Manila. For the Chinese, the healthy path means returning to the Duterte-era policy of preferential engagement and turning a blind eye to Chinese incursions into the West Philippine Sea.

The words are a thinly veiled criticism of Mr. Marcos’ firmer stance in defending Philippine sovereignty, reinvigorating defense ties with like-minded partners.

With the arrival of a new Chinese ambassador, there is little reason to expect a change in Beijing’s posture. Its pattern of aggression reflects a long-standing strategy that transcends personalities in the embassy. Diplomats may change, but China’s objectives remain the same: to expand its hegemonic control in the entire South China Sea.

But equally telling was what VP Sara Duterte said during the event. She described Philippines-China ties in language uncannily similar to Beijing’s script: ‘mutual respect, sovereign equality, and a shared commitment to peace,’ even claiming that cooperation was ‘anchored in international law.’

Such statements are far removed from the lived reality of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea, where China has ignored international rulings, harassed fishermen, and undermined Philippine sovereignty. Sara Duterte should not deny the depth of the Filipino people’s opposition to Beijing’s influence: in a September 2024 survey held by Pulse Asia, 72 percent of Filipinos said they would support an anti-China candidate, while only 17 percent favored a pro-China candidate. The decisive margin underscores that any political figure openly aligned with Beijing risks losing the confidence of a clear majority of voters. These results confirm that defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea is not just a foreign policy imperative but also an important issue in the country’s electoral politics.

With Filipinos overwhelmingly rejecting pro-China candidates, defending sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea has become a defining political issue.

And our leaders must listen.

China is pursuing its expansionist ambition, even if that means disregard for international law and baseless claims regarding its own and other countries’ sovereignty. But Philippine leaders-acting on China’s behest and adopting a policy of appeasement and accommodation when they should be the first ones to defend our country from persistent acts of aggression-are another story.

We must be extremely wary of them, see through their crafty messages, and refuse to let them represent us again.

The hour of reckoning has come for Royina Garma. This week, a Mandaluyong court issued warrants of arrest against the former police colonel and trusted Duterte aide, as well as retired police officer Edilberto Leonardo, and three others on charges of murder and frustrated murder.

The five are accused of being behind the 2020 assassination of former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Board Secretary Wesley Barayuga. Garma was Barayuga’s boss as general manager of the PCSO from 2019 to 2022, appointed to that position by former President Rodrigo Duterte after her early retirement from the police force with the rank of police colonel.

From those once lofty posts, she is now facing interminable days in jail, because the charges against her are nonbailable. Once Garma is brought back to the country from Malaysia where she had flown reportedly to meet with representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC), she would go straight to a cramped prison cell. There, she’d have more than enough time to contemplate, and perhaps rue, how her past life choices led to the current state of existence she’s enduring now.

In her heyday, Garma most likely thought the happy days would last forever. She had seemingly hit the jackpot, after all-or what counted for it in a country still ruled by powerful political warlords and kingpins: proximity to power.

Most trusted

As a long-time top cop in Davao City (and later in Cebu City), Garma became one of then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s most trusted foot soldiers, such that, according to the affidavits filed at the ICC by self-confessed former Davao Death Squad (DDS) hitmen Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas, Garma was among those with direct knowledge of and participation in the killing sprees carried out by the DDS in the name of Duterte’s ‘war on drugs.’

Per Lascañas, Garma-and Leonardo, now his co-accused in the Barayuga case-allegedly took direct orders from Duterte. In 2016, three Chinese drug lords detained at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm were summarily killed. The suspects were two prisoners who, in 2024, submitted affidavits to the House quad committee looking into extrajudicial killings that it was a cop named Arthur Narsolis who gave the order to kill the Chinese detainees.

Narsolis was not only a subordinate of Garma at that time; he was also her boyfriend. A jail officer would also tell the House that Garma had warned him against ‘interfering’ in the operation to kill the three Chinese. More damningly, Garma allegedly told him it was part of Duterte’s drug war.

Lucrative post

In Cebu City where she became police chief beginning 2018, Garma’s name struck fear and loathing in impoverished communities targeted by the brutal antinarcotics campaign of her boss. A victim’s mother testified at the House how, at the wake of her son who was gunned down by cops in an alleged drug raid, Garma arrogantly barged in, angry that such a wake was being held for a drug suspect and demanding why ‘there is only one dead, when there are many of them’ killed during the operation.

Garma had a full 10 years left to her career as a cop, but apparently, she was promised much bigger things, because she opted to retire early. Just days after chucking her uniform, she was installed as PCSO chief by Duterte. The state gambling regulator turned out to be a lucrative post not only for Garma, but also for her family. She hired seven family members to various PCSO positions and set up a party list led by relatives and associates that, according to House lawmakers, profited from its connection to Garma as PCSO chief.

But it was also here, at the peak of her power and influence propped up by the iron hand of a strongman, that Garma’s sense of impunity appeared to have made a fatal overreach. In July 2020, Barayuga was killed in a shocking vigilante-style shooting in Mandaluyong.

Bare minimum

Nothing came of the investigation into his killing until, four years later, yet another cop would disclose to the House that Garma and Leonardo had allegedly masterminded the assassination, to prevent Barayuga from delving into irregularities in the PCSO.

Confronted with the barrage of incriminating information against her, the once swaggering, untouchable Garma was reduced to a sputtering mess before lawmakers, at one point begging not to be detained for contempt because she supposedly needed to take care of a sick daughter at home-the one she had previously placed in the PCSO’s payroll as a ‘confidential agent.’

Now that the moment of reckoning has come for Garma, she must make amends and pay back for her actions on two nonnegotiable fronts: one, by serving time in prison if she is found guilty of Barayuga’s murder; and two, by testifying at the ICC, fully, and without dissembling, about the extent of the mass killings done by the DDS under Duterte’s command.

National University arrived at University of Santo Tomas’ own home floor with something that two previous Tigers opponents didn’t have: familiarity with one Collins Akowe.

For two games, the 6-foot-8 Nigerian-a product of the NU high school program-had bulldozed his way to an average of 24.5 points and 18 rebounds, powering the Growling Tigers to upset wins over defending champion University of the Philippines and last season’s finalist La Salle. But on Wednesday at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, the Bulldogs smothered him into irrelevance.

Akowe finished with just five points on 1-of-7 shooting-his lowest output of the season-and eight rebounds. Without their anchor, UST struggled to sustain its hot start to UAAP Season 88.

It was the Bulldogs that did just that, roaring to a share of the lead with a 76-69 victory, the team’s third straight win.

‘The players really worked hard to get this,’ NU coach Jeff Napa said. ‘I’m happy because they really followed the game plan. They are disciplined to do it, the effort is there-that’s what I always remind them.’

And while the defense was suffocating, it was Jake Figueroa who delivered the clutch blows.

Cold-blooded triple

With UST ahead by one late in the fourth, Gelo Santiago put NU back in front with a layup. Then Figueroa rose for a step-back jumper to make it 70-67 with under two minutes left.

Nic Cabañero kept UST alive with a basket, trimming it to 70-69. But Figueroa wasn’t finished. Off a Tigers turnover, he buried a cold-blooded triple with 38.2 seconds left, the dagger that sealed the triumph.

‘I just took advantage of the responsibility coach gave me,’ Figueroa said. ‘It was something I had to own, so I did my part and it worked out.’

Figueroa finished with 22 points, including nine in the fourth, while also grabbing nine rebounds. Omar John provided muscle inside, posting 10 points, 12 boards, three blocks, three assists and two steals in his battle with Akowe.

The win tied NU with idle Ateneo at the top of the standings at 3-0 (win-loss).

For UST, the defeat marked the end of its perfect start. Cabañero paced the Tigers with 19 points on 8-of-19 shooting, while Amiel Acido broke out with a career-high 18. Mark Llemit added 12 points, five rebounds and two steals, and Forthsky Padrigao chipped in 10 points and six assists.

But without Akowe’s usual dominance, the Tigers lacked the finishing punch against a well-drilled NU squad.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, still at UST’s QPav. The Bulldogs face UP in a battle of contenders at 4:30 p.m., while UST looks to bounce back at 1:30 p.m. against winless UE.