THE ATENEO Blue Eagles kept their streak of dominance over the Adamson Falcons alive, outclassing them in near wire-to-wire fashion, 68-55, on September 19 at the Araneta Coliseum.  The win granted the Blue Eagles their third Finals berth in the Norman Black era and gave the Ateneo coach a shot at being the first three-peat coach in school history.

From the get go, the Blue Eagles got the jump on their San Marcelino counterparts, executing on the break and blitzing their way to a 22-12 lead heading into the second quarter. Emman Monfort then quelled any Adamson resistance, pacing Ateneo with 22 points, one shy of his career high.  The “Pocket Rocket” started in place of King Eagle Eric Salamat who has been stricken with a fever for the past week.

The lead would balloon throughout, breaching the 20 point barrier late in the third, before an atrocious fourth quarter which was littered with questionable fouls and saw the lead trimmed to a respectable 13.

The rout was a large disappointment given the recent backdrop of thrilling finishes between the two teams with an average margin of defeat of just three points.

The win is the Blue Eagle’s 28th consecutive victory over the Falcons, a streak that dates back 13 years to September 18, 1997.

Coach Norman Black described the Final Four encounter with the Falcons to be the “best prepared” game his staff has put together in years.

“We had to come prepared because we know that Leo Austria prepares very well and we both know what the other is going to do,” Coach Norman added.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles will play the FEU Tamaraws in the first installment of the UAAP Season 73 Basketball finals on Saturday, September 25 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Boxscore:

Ateneo 68 – Monfort 22, Long 13, Salva 11, Escueta 7, Salamat 7, Golla 2, Chua 2, Buenafe 2, Austria 2

AdU 55- Alvarez 11, Stinnett 7, Camson 7, Cabrera 7, Manyara 6, Colina 6, Nuyles 4, Lozada 4, Canada 2, Galinato 1

Quarter scores:
22-12, 39-29, 60-42, 68-55