THE ATENEO Blue Eagles leaned on a dominant second half performance to cruise past arch rivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 68-54, earlier today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
With this win, Ateneo now holds a 6-3 win-loss standing to further secure their Final Four bid in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85.
Five of the Blue Eagles produced double digits in scoring, with Dave Ildefonso leading the team by securing 12 points and seven rebounds. Reigning MVP Ange Kouame followed up with a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds. Meanwhile, Starters Forthsky Padrigao, Kai Ballungay, and substitute guard Chris Koon contributed 11 points each.
Ateneo failed to score in the early stretches of the game due to the intensity of La Salle’s defense. Their halfcourt plays struggled to convert inside, leading to a 6-0 opening run from the Green Archers in the first quarter. Haunted by sloppy turnovers and missed three-point field goals, the Blue Eagles ended the first frame behind DLSU, 10-16.
In the second quarter, the Blue and White looked more confident attacking the basket—their fluid offense often ending in open buckets from Kouame inside the paint. A 13-1 scoring run then found Ateneo retaking the lead, 25-21, courtesy of big shots from Ildefonso and Ballungay. With a late back-and-forth affair between the rivals, the first half ended at a 29-29 deadlock.
[Second Quarter]
— Anton Mercado (@Anton_TheGUIDON) November 5, 2022
Ballungay contorts his body and gets the and-one. He misses the bonus.
Ateneo 25 DLSU 21#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/hcgHyQ0NS8
Entering the second half, the Blue Eagles shifted gears and focused on pestering the Green Archers from the defensive end. Ateneo then forced multiple turnovers from DLSU, leading to fast break opportunities and an 8-0 run to start the third frame. The Blue and White ultimately capped off the third quarter with a 54-39 lead, following back-to-back baskets by Padrigao.
Ateneo kept the same energy as they started the final quarter, jumping to a 22 point advantage at one point—the largest lead in the game. Despite the huge gap, La Salle refused to back down, capitalizing off Ateneo’s sudden shooting drought. DLSU Point Guard Evan Nelle’s and-one conversion sparked a late 10-0 DLSU run, but this was immediately followed by back-to-back triples from Koon to seal the Blue Eagles’ victory, 68-54.
With momentum on their side, the Blue Eagles are looking to inch closer in the Final Four race as they take on the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Thursday, November 17 at 6:30 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Box score:
Ateneo (68): Ildefonso – 12, Padrigao – 11, Ballungay – 11, Kouame – 11, Koon – 11, Andrade – 8, Gomez – 2, Chiu – 2
DLSU (54): Nelle – 15, Nwankwo – 7, Quiambao – 6, Nonoy – 6, Austria – 5, Estacio – 5, Manuel – 4, Phillips – 3, Abadam – 2, Macalalag – 1
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-DLSU: 10-16, 29-29, 56-39, 68-54
