ON A night when everything started on the wrong note, the Ateneo Blue Eagles hit their stride and carried the momentum through the end of the game, blowing out the National University Bulldogs 82-65 at the Araneta Coliseum on July 31. The veteran backcourt of Kirk Long and Eric Salamat poured in season high efforts of 20 and 19 points respectively, as the Blue Eagles turned an early 14 point deficit into their largest winning margin of the season.

The Blue Eagles started off rather lifeless, getting outhustled and despite a number of easy attempts, could not find the bottom of the net—a point made explicit by a near five minute drought which bridged the first and second quarters.

With less than 15 minutes into the game, Ateneo found themselves down 28-16. It took a bench decorum warning to jolt themselves and impose their will on the game: forcing turnovers and turning those opportunities into easy lay ups and trips to the line.

The second half began where the first one left-off; the Katipunan side shot a blistering 55.6% from the field, a pace the Bulldogs could not match managing a paltry 34.2%.

After four games of mediocre shooting from the three-point arc, the Blue Eagles finally broke out of their season long slump, hitting six of nine attempts, behind Kirk Long’s perfect 4-4 mark.

NU’s attempt at a comeback came late in the fourth cutting an 18 point lead down to 10, 73-63. But Ateneo closed the game on a 8-2 run capped by Eric Salamat’s jumper that banked in after getting caught in the air, failing to secure a foul call on his defender.

For the Blue Eagles, the second half was a highlight reel featuring signature contributions from the breadth of the rotation; from Emman Monfort’s double-pump three pointer to Juami Tiongson’s diving tap to save the possession after single handedly denying a Bulldog fast break. The Blue and White Faithful were brought to their feet early in the fourth when the sparingly-used spark plug Tonino Gonzaga, finished a fast break for his first field goal of the year.

When asked to comment on the break neck pace of the game, Ateneo Coach Norman Black said, “That was the game plan. It has been all along. We want to lead the league in fast break points.”

Ateneo next plays the University of the Philippines on August 5 (Thursday), 4pm at the Araneta Coliseum.

Author’s Notes:

After falling behind 28-14 with 6:38 remaining in the 2nd quarter, the Blue Eagles completed a 31 point swing resulting in a 17 point win, the largest of the season for Ateneo. Ateneo converted 24 turnovers into 36 points and assisted on 24 of their 29 shots.

Boxscore:

Ateneo 82- Salamat 20, Long 19, Salva 14, Dela Cruz 6, Golla 6, Tiongson 5, Monfort 5, Gonzaga 3, Escueta 2, Buenafe 2

NU 65- Hermosisima 18, Manlanday 12, Mbe 11, Khobuntin 6, Terso 5, Magat 4, Javillonar, 3, Ponferrada 3, Tungcul 2

Quarter Scoring: 17-11, 34-33, 61-48, 82-65