Five days after dismantling the NU Bulldogs with scintillating offense, the Ateneo Blue Eagles took apart the UP Fighting Maroons defensively, taking the first game in the Battle of Katipunan, 78-53 on August 5 at the Araneta Coliseum. The Ateneo rotation defense was solid throughout keeping State U from breaching 13 points in all but the last quarter, highlighted by a season-best 5 point defensive stand in the third.
Neither team took any significant advantage in the first quarter, with both teams executing their defenses – the Maroons kept Ateneo out of the paint, turning Ateneo into a jump shooting team. The defensive battle resulted in a 13-12 quarter with UP holding a one-point lead heading into the second.
The Blue Eagles took off in the second led by Nico Salva and Juami Tiongson, who scored nine and six in the period respectively. The State University cagers however could not break the Ateneo defense. Unable to keep up with the Ateneo pace the Fighting Maroons fell behind, marking a 14 point swing and a 38-25 Ateneo lead at the turn.
While it was the Ateneo offense that was key in taking control of the game, it was the swarming defense that put the Maroons away after the break; forcing the Maroons into a UAAP-low 5 point quarter in the third. UP went nearly eight minutes without a point, managing only two field goals and missed on three of four free throw attempts.
The final stanza saw the UP offense finally come alive behind a barrage of three pointers led by Alvin Padilla—hitting three triples to raise his total to 12 for the game. But this offensive outbreak was soon negated by Salva’s stellar performance, chipping in 10 points to bring his game high total to 18.
As the game was decided well before the final buzzer, Coach Norman Black inserted rookie Jeric Estrada, who in the final minute scored a midrange jumper for his first ever basket in the UAAP. With seventeen seconds remaining, Estrada’s basket incited a roar from the sparse crowd.
Captain Eric Salamat carried over his strong offensive play from the NU rout, notching 12 points and matching team season highs of nine assists and four steals.
Ateneo are now 4-2, sitting in the midst of a three-way tie with Adamson and La Salle.
Commenting on the recent rhythm in games Salva said, “When we are able to get rebounds and get stops, it leads to fast breaks and easy points.”
“Our goal at the end [elimination round] is to finish in the top two so it’s good we’re where we are,” he added.
The Blue Eagles close out the first round against Season 72 finalists UE on August 8, Sunday, 4 pm at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Boxscore
ADMU 78- Salva 18, Tiongson 13, Salamat 12, Golla 8, Chua 8, Escueta 6, Long 3, Estrada 2, Dela Cruz 2, Monfort, 2, Buenafe 2, Austria 2
UP 53- Sison 13, Paddilla 12, Lapez 6, Silungan 5, Co 5, Gomez 4, Reyes Martin 3, Reyes Miguel 2, Juruena 2, Manuel 1
Quarter Scoring
12-13, 38-25, 54-30, 78-53
