GUARDED BY Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Kiefer Ravena drove to the lane, hesitated, and made a behind-the-back pass to an open Justin Chua, who had been cashing in on his jumpers all afternoon. Chua hit the shot and gave the Blue Eagles’ their biggest lead at 13 points.
Though the Bulldogs would water that number down late in the second half, it was that kind of a day for Chua and Ravena, who formed Ateneo’s one-two punch without center Greg Slaughter.
The NU Bulldogs, led by Parks, had a chance to bite back, but Ateneo’s defense would send them to the pound. With Justin Chua scoring 17 points, the Blue Eagles maintained their perfect FilOil Preseason record at 5-0, as they downed the Bulldogs in a 71-66 nail biter on May 7 at The Arena in San Juan—a game that featured two of the most anticipated names in UAAP Season 74.
Ateneo played without Slaughter, who sat out due to illness. Coach Sandy Arespacochaga, again, filled in for Coach Norman Black, who is currently fulfilling coaching duties with the Talk N’ Text Phone Pals.
Frank Golla filled in for Slaughter at center, while Oping Sumalinog took Golla’s usual spot at power forward. NU started guards Ajeet Singh and Cedrick Labing-isa, forwards Parks and Kyle Neypes and center Jano Eman.
Ateneo’s first quarter was a forgettable one with both teams finding viable scoring options. Although Nico Salva would score the Eagles’ first two points, NU’s Neypes smothered him with his length as Salva struggled to find his shot later in the game. Ravena, who entered late in the first, scored six fast points, providing the Blue Eagles with much-needed offense. The canto ended at 17-13, in favor of the Eagles.
The Blue Eagles would make an offensive outburst in the second. JP Erram, Bacon Austria and Chua would all make baskets before NU called for time with the score at 25-17. A few minutes later, Parks made his first field goal off a lay-in.
Ateneo would pile the lead after the NU timeout, going on a 7-2 run, but the Bulldogs responded and played on a faster pace. Guards Reden Celda and Labing-isa, along with Parks, overwhelmed the Blue Eagle defense with their fast break baskets, ending the half at 39-35.
The Bulldogs upped their defense in the third, outscoring the Blue Eagles 15-11. Parks manned Ravena, who was denied the fast break looks he had in the first half. While the NU offense relied heavily on Parks’ ability to draw fouls, the Blue Eagles struggled to find open looks.
NU would then carry the defensive momentum early in the fourth. Ravena streaked in the open court only to be blocked by the taller Parks. A shot by NU forward Glenn Khobuntin would give NU its first lead of the game at 52-50.
But the Katipunan-based squad answered and went on a 10-2 run, after free throws from Chua, a lay-in from Tonino Gonzaga, and threes from Austria and Monfort. The momentum, however, was short-lived as NU crawled back via a three by Parks, making it a one-possession game, 60-57.
After a lay-in by Salva to make it 62-57, Ravena switched to defend Parks, and the Blue Eagle rookie took the assignment head-on. Parks would only score on free throws for the rest of the quarter. After an airball by Parks, Ateneo looked to put the game out of reach after Monfort hit a three to give the Eagles some breathing room, 65-58.
A free throw by Chua granted the Eagles their biggest lead of the quarter, but a three from guard Gelo Alolino cut the deficit significantly. He would hit another triple after Monfort and Khobuntin each made two free throws for their teams, 68-66.
NU resorted to fouling, and free throws by Salva made it a two possession game. In what would be NU’s last possession, Kirk Long made a key steal and was soon fouled. He split his free throws to ice the game at 71-66.
Chua led the team with 17 points, followed by Ravena with 13 points and a game-high seven assists. Monfort scored 11 points on 50% shooting from deep. Parks led the Bulldogs with 21 points and seven rebounds. Khobuntin and Alolino scored ten apiece for 4-2 Bulldogs.
NU made huge strides to fortify its roster, hiring Coach Eric Altamirano and recruiting several highly-touted players, among them Bobby ‘Ray-ray’ Parks Jr., who declined an invite from Georgia Tech’s basketball program to play for NU; former UST High School standouts Kyle Neypes and Cedrick Labing-isa; former University of Perpetual Help standout Gelo Alolino; 6’6” Jano Eman, brother of 6’9” Alaska Aces center Samigue Eman; Cameroonian Henri Betayene; and AJ Hanson, another 6’6” cager from Canada.
The Blue Eagles next face the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Stags on May 11, Wednesday, 12:30, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Box Score:
Ateneo 71– Chua 17, Ravena 13, Monfort 11, Salva 8, Erram 8, Austria 6, Long 2, Golla 2, Gonzaga 2, Sumalinog 2, Tiongson 0
NU 66 – Parks 21, Khobuntin 10, Alolino 10, Singh 7, Villamor 5, Celda 4, Labing-isa 3, Betayene 2, Neypes 2, Magat 2, Eman 0, Terso 0, Ignacio 0, Celiz 0, Javillonar 0, Roño 0
Quarter Scoring: 17-13, 39-35, 50-50, 71-66
