MARSHALED BY Kirk Long’s 23 points, the Ateneo Blue Eagles shook off a slow start to defeat the Mapua Cardinals 65-56, in the Elite Eight of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) on November 24, at the San Juan Arena.

Matched against the reigning PCCL champs, the Cardinals made it clear that they had no intentions of bowing out to their lauded opponents, doubling up on the Eagles, 25-12, after MIT’s Rodel Ranises banked in a jumper at the 6:52 mark of the second quarter.

The Cardinal defense put pressure on the Ateneo passing lanes, forcing the Blue Eagles to isolate against their defenders.  The vaunted Ateneo fast break was hindered by solid transition defense on the part of the Cardinals, limiting the Blue Eagles to five fast break points at the half.

In need of quick offense, the Blue Eagles received a shot in the arm when defensive stalwart Long scored nine consecutive points in four minutes, pulling them to within six with three minutes left in the half.

Long added a three pointer late in the quarter, and the comeback was completed by point guard Juami Tiongson, who converted a three point play with 43 seconds left in the quarter to give the Blue Eagles a two point lead heading into the break, 32-30.

Early in the third, the game took a turn for the physical, taking a toll on both sides, grinding the game down into a battle of attrition.  Neither team capitalized on the change of pace, as the margin did not exceeded three in the quarter.

Tensions grew to a boil late in the quarter as Jonathan Banal and Eric Salamat exchanged shoves and words prompting the officials to whistle both guards for technical fouls. Flustered, the Blue Eagles limped into the fourth trailing the Cardinals, 46-42.

Jason Pascual hit a booming three pointer early in the quarter to push the Cardinal lead to five—the largest the lead Mapua would enjoy in the fourth.

The inevitable Ateneo response was definitive, a 15-0 run in a 1:58 minute stretch, aided by questionable antics on the part of Mapua guard Allan Mangahas.

As the teams lined up for the free-throws, Mangahas was whistled for a technical for improper confrontation with an official, sending Emman Monfort to the charity stripe. The Blue Eagles retained possession, pushing the lead to 10 just shy of the five minute mark.

The Cardinals would never seriously threaten again and a litany of trips to the line for both sides would close the scoring.

With the win, the Blue Eagles will face the University of Cebu Webmasters, Tuesday, November 30, 2pm at the San Juan Arena.