BAHRAIN'S Bader Abdulla Malabes helped the De La Salle Green Archers rout the National University Bulldogs 68-48 in the men's basketball tournament of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

Bader scored just four points in the game, but had plenty of other contributions elsewhere.

The Archers came out firing in the opening quarter, and they used their vaunted trapping defence to take a 17-4 lead at the end of the opening quarter, which they extended to a commanding 36-20 advantage at the interval.

In the second half, the Archers didn't let up and they took a huge 57-28 lead heading into the final period. They cruised from there, and at the final buzzer registered their third successive victory after starting the season with back-to-back losses.

Sam Marata paced the Archers with 12 points, while Simon Atkins contributed 11. Joshua Webb, Kish Co and Yutien Andrada each pitched in with six points.

Jewel Ponferrada scored a game-high 23 to lead the Bulldogs, who suffered their fourth straight defeat after winning their opening fixture.

Meanwhile, defending champions the Ateneo Blue Eagles bounced back from their first loss of the year with a 61-51 triumph over the Adamson Falcons.

Eric Salamat scored 16 points and Jai Reyes had 11 to spearhead the victors, who went to solo first place with the result.

The Eagles turned a close game wide open in the third quarter. They headed into the final period up 47-39, and did well to hold on in the late stages for the 10-point win.

Justin Chua had eight points for the Eagles while reigning Most Valuable Player Rabeh Al Hussaini added six.

Jan Colina and Leo Canuday scored 11 apiece to spearhead the Falcons. UAAP action continues today with the Eagles facing the Bulldogs and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws playing the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.