MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATED) National University (NU) underscored its status as a contender for UAAP Season 85 after stunning defending champion University of the Philippines (UP), 80-75, on Wednesday afternoon at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Bulldogs got Steve Nash Enriquez back in action, and Omar John and Jake Figueroa made big plays down the stretch as they handed the Fighting Maroons their first loss of the men's basketball tournament.

John finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in what was the foreign student-athlete's best game so far for the Bulldogs. Kean Baclaan had 13 points, and Enriquez finished with 10 points in 17 minutes. Figueroa had an all-around performance of 10 points, five rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks.

"We beat a very tough team talaga. That's why they're defending champions," NU head coach Jeff Napa said afterward. "Up to the last minute, talagang nag-bleed kami ng kung ano kailangan naming gawin para manalo."

With the result, NU forced a three-way tie for first place as they improved to 3-1. They now have an identical record with the Fighting Maroons and Ateneo de Manila University.

NU led by as much as 12 points in the third quarter after back-to-back jumpers from veteran guard John Lloyd Clemente that made it 54-42. But the Fighting Maroons responded with a blistering 22-4 run that pushed them ahead, 66-60 with 1:08 left in the frame.

It was NU that ended the quarter on a stronger note, however. UP's turnovers allowed the Bulldogs to score six unanswered points, and they carried that momentum into the fourth period where they opened with a 7-0 run.

A floater by Figueroa put NU ahead, 73-66, with under seven minutes to go and the Fighting Maroons were forced to play catch-up the rest of the way. They got within three points, 75-72, off a Zavier Lucero triple before both teams clamped down defensively.

A split at the line by Mike Malonzo ended the NU drought with just 1:41 to play. The Bulldogs were able to retain possession after he missed his second free throw, and John made the Fighting Maroons pay with a jumper for a 78-72 count with just 1:24 to go.

Carl Tamayo nailed a triple out of a UP timeout to make it a one-possession game, 78-75, and NU gave the Maroons some hope when Figueroa misfired in their next possession. But Terrence Fortea bricked a potential game-tying triple, giving NU back the ball with 30.4 ticks left.

The Fighting Maroons had one last chance when the Bulldogs turned the ball over on the inbound play, with Figueroa's pass being mishandled by Malonzo. NU's defense came through in the end game, however: Tamayo missed a layup at the rim, and Figueroa made up for his error by blocking Fortea's triple. Enriquez iced the game at the free throw line.

"Siyempre big deal na 'to, season na 'to eh. Every game, must win, kailangan namin ng panalo," said Napa, who had downplayed their victory over UP in preseason tournaments.

Zavier Lucero had 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting to lead UP, while Tamayo had 17 points and 11 boards. But the Fighting Maroons, after clawing their way back from deficits to win their first three games, couldn't complete a comeback this time around.

They were undone by their turnovers, with NU scoring 25 points off their 27 miscues.

This is NU's first win over UP since October 8, 2017, when the Bulldogs defeated the Fighting Maroons, 77-70, to end the first round of UAAP Season 80.

The scores:

NU 80 -- John 16, Baclaan 13, Figueroa 10, Enriquez 10, Minerva 6, Clemente 6, Malonzo 5, Yu 4, Galinato 4, Mahinay 2, Manansala 2, Tibayan 2, Padrones 0, Palacielo 0.

UP 75 -- Lucero 22, Tamayo 17, Abadiano 11, Alarcon 9, Diouf 7, Fortea 6, Gonzales 2, Spencer 1, Galinato 0, Ramos 0, Calimag 0.

Quarters: 23-24, 50-42, 66-66, 80-75.

UAAP Season 85 is streaming on iWantTFC every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, available for Premium users outside the Philippines.

Related video:

Watch more News on iWantTFC