FAR EASTERN University’s Pippo Noundou is top two in the MVP race, just 22 statistical points behind Mapua’s Yousef Taha. Greg Slaughter is a distant 30th in the list, having played only six games while Noundou has played nine.
However, Slaughter played more like an MVP candidate in the game that mattered the most, after San Beda had already secured a finals berth two hours earlier. The Blue Eagles defeated the Tamaraws, 82-74, on June 10 at the San Juan Arena to book their first ever trip to the FilOil Finals.
At one point in the game, Noundou subbed in from the scorer’s table for fellow Cameroonian Sikam Sentcheu, tasked to guard the seven-foot Slaughter, who was just seven feet away from the basket. Slaughter took advantage of the defensive lapse and barreled his way to a dunk—easy two points for a man who had been double-teamed for most of the game.
‘Sergeant’ Slaughter notched 24 points and tallied 14 rebounds to lead the Blue Eagles to a crucial win against last year’s UAAP top seed FEU Tamaraws.
The Blue Eagles relied on Eman Monfort and Kirk Long to score in the opening salvo while FEU marquee players Aldrech Ramos and RR Garcia made buckets for FEU.
The first half swung both ways as teams looked for offensive rhythm; Ateneo found theirs earlier through Slaughter, who scored easily in the paint being guarded only by Noundou and the wiry Russel Escoto. Slaughter built a scoring rampage late in the second, scoring six points in a 9-2 run. The half ended at 43-35.
FEU Coach Bert Flores ultimately decided to double team Slaughter by the start of the third, but Slaughter continued his strong inside play, banking a hook shot to give the Eagles their first double-digit lead at 45-35. Midway through the quarter, referees called two straight technical fouls on Coach Flores after he continuously argued the referees’ calls. Monfort would go on to sink all four free throws from both technicals.
Sentcheu would switch to guard Slaughter and the lanky seven-footer defended Slaughter effectively, using his athleticism and wingspan to cover Slaughter. Coach Black would substitute Justin Chua for Slaughter to offset Sentcheu.
Both teams went nail for nail in the rest of the third, with Kiefer Ravena closing the quarter with a lay-in over two Tamaraw defenders, 63-52.
FEU would water down Ateneo’s edge to a single digit lead after Cawaling’s floater. A put back by Ramos put them within four, but Slaughter would make another easy hook shot to keep the lead comfortable, followed by an emphatic block on Noundou on the other end. FEU would come within striking distance, 75-72, after FEU guard Chris Exciminiano converted a lay-in after a Blue Eagle turnover.
After missing some inside shots, Noundou would recover the ball and miss another crucial inside shot, tweaking his ankle in the process. Two free throws from Salva would make it 78-72, but Terrence Romeo would hit a long jumper in the two-minute mark to keep them within four.
FEU was shut down in the last two minutes, while Slaughter scored the final four points of the game for Ateneo off a hook and a tip-in. The game ended at 82-74 with the Eagles on top.
Slaughter led the Blue Eagles with 24 points and 14 rebounds, shooting 63% from the field. Monfort marked 15 points and dished out six assists. FEU veterans Garcia and Ramos led the Tams with 15 points apiece. Noundou tallied only six points and only four rebounds.
The Katipunan squad had more turnovers than the Morayta squad, 17-9, but managed to make a sizeable margin in the rebounding department, 42-32.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles are set to face the San Beda Red Lions on Sunday, June 12, at The FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan. The Red Lions were the first team the Blue Eagles faced in the tourney. The Blue Eagles won their first meeting, 90-87.
Quarter scoring:
22-18, 43-35, 63-52, 82-74
ADMU – 82: Slaughter 24, Monfort 15, Long 11, Ravena 9, Salva 8, Chua 6, Sumalinog 5, Golla 2, Erram 2, Austria 0, Gonzaga 0
FEU – 74: Garcia 15, Ramos 15, Cawaling 11, Romeo 11, Examiniano 7, Noundou 6, Escoto 6, Bringas 2, Knuttel 1, Sentcheu 0, Tolomia 0, Cruz 0
