MANILA, Philippines - Usually overlooked of his offensive prowess, Peejay Barua officially declared to the UAAP that he can shoot -- and he did it convincingly at that.

Peejay Barua was a shooting revelation, netting 26 big markers on 6-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Going 6-of-8 from three point country, the Guimaras Island native shot the lights out of the Philsports Arena and the stirring result was a career game for the third-year veteran and an easy rout for the Archers of the National University Bulldogs, 93-69, last July 19.

This allowed the Taft-based dribblers to grab solo second place toting a solo 3-1 win-loss record.

The Archers remain a game behind their archrival Ateneo Blue Eagles, who crushed the University of the Philippines Maroons in this year's first battle of Katipunan, 83-66, early on to keep the solo lead with their 4-0 record.

"I guess this is my best game so far in my career. Bukas na bukas yung depensa kanina, kaya attack lang ako ng attack," said the 20-year old Ilonggo junior, who popped in 26 game-high markers - his career-high in the UAAP - and virtually gave the NU Bulldogs a shooting clinic.

"The Kite" Rico Maierhofer, by far the most consistent Archer this season, throws in a monster jam.

The Bulldogs, who helplessly fell to their fourth straight loss, even took charge early with a 7-0 opening lead and a 21-11 advantage with 3:29 left in the first quarter.

Finding wisdom from the directives given by basketball guru Junel Baculi, the Bulldogs' early attack caught the Green Archers flatfooted as they surged to a ten-point advantage after a lay-up by Jessey Garcia.

However, since that stage, the Green Archers were relentless both on offense and defense.

Barua ignited the Archers' offensive salvo, cutting loose with three three-pointers in near succession to allow La Salle to chop the lead to a single basket, 22-24, at the end of the first period.

Barua's fourth triple in the 9:19 mark of the second finally gave the Archers the lead for good, 25-24.

The Archers played relentless defense on the hapless Bulldogs.

"We started flat and NU gave us a run early on. But, Peejay Barua was there, and he gave everyone a shooting clinic," remarked Green Archers coach Franz Pumaren.

It was downhill for the Bulldogs afterwards.

In the next period, Barua joined hands with Rico Maiherhofer to help widen the lead.

Maierhofer poured in eight of his 16 points in the second period, while Barua chipped in eight as La Salle established a 10-point spread at halftime, 46-36.

Also dominating the boards with 13 rebounds, Maierhofer and Barua capped La Salle's big run with three more treys to keep La Salle's big bubble.

The two combined for 16 points in the third period, with Barua unleashing his fifth three-pointer with two ticks left to give La Salle a 70-48 spread.

The wide lead gave Pumaren the luxury to field in all of his players, which included rookie Manoj Chandumal and sophomore Rejan Lee.

Although Simon Atkins failed to score a basket, the win served as a perfect birthday gift for the former DLSZ standout. He turned 20 years old Saturday.

- Cesar Concio

THE SCORES:

DLSU 93 - Barua 26, Maierhofer 16, Villanueva 8, Mendoza 8, Mangahas 8, Batricevic 5, Webb 4, Casio 4, Walsham 3, Chandumal 3, Bagatsing 3, Lee 3, Ferdinand 2, Revilla 0, Malabes 0, Atkins 0.

NU 69 - Asoro 14, Jahnke 13, Berry 8, Baloran 8, Aguilar 6. Catamora 6, Batac 5, Garcia 4, Galapon 3, Ponferrada 2, Tungkul 0, Magat 0, Fabula 0, De La Cruz 0, Luy 0.

Quarter Scores: 22-24; 46-36, 70-48, 93-69