THE ATENEO Blue Eagles ran out winners in a wire-to-wire victory over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 71-70, on Wednesday, September 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.
This result puts the Blue Eagles atop the ranks at 3-0 in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82.
Thirdy Ravena led the Blue and White with a classic all-around performance as he scored 17 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. Ange Kouame poured in a quiet double-double of his own, notching 11 points and 10 boards.
For the España-based squad, Soulemane Chabi Yo stamped his dominance on the game, finishing with 25 points and 13 rebounds, while shooting at an efficient 11/17 (64.71%) clip.
Ateneo held a comfortable lead in the first quarter thanks to excellent transition play and sweet shooting from long range. However, UST answered back with a torrid 13-1 run to end the half. Following the break, neither side could break the game open and UST clung to a slim three point lead entering the deciding quarter.
In crunch time, the Blue Eagles were unfazed and relied on their scrappy defensive identity to fuel their offense. With seconds left in regulation, Gian Mamuyac came up clutch on the defensive end, contesting a potential game-tying three by CJ Cansino. Matt Nieto was then sent to the line and earned the Blue Eagles a two-possession lead. On the final play, UST’s Renzo Subido sank a difficult corner triple, but Ateneo still held the advantage and took home the win.
“I don’t want to say I told you so, but I told you so”—these were one of the first comments Coach Tab Baldwin uttered following the tight match. “You can talk about character and toughness [and] pulling it out in the crunch and all of that, but I think that every applaud that you give your team—the other team deserves exactly the same thing because that game could have gone either way. We’re very fortunate,” says Baldwin.
The Blue Eagles face off against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws at Saturday, September 14, at 4:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Quarter scores:
23-13, 33-37, 53-56, 71-70
Box scores:
ATENEO: Ravena – 17, Kouame – 11, Mamuyac – 10, Navarro – 8, Belangel – 6, Maagdenberg – 6, Ma. Nieto – 5, Go – 3, Wong – 3, Mi. Nieto – 2, Andrade – 0, Daves – 0, Tio – 0
UST: Chabi Yo – 25, Abando – 9, Nonoy – 9, Subido – 9, Huang – 6, Cansino – 4, Concepcion – 4, Ando – 2, Paraiso – 2, Bataller – 0
