POWERED BY a combined 30-point performance by Ola Adegoun and Baser Amer, the San Beda Red Lions overcame a 13-point deficit and drew first blood by handing the Ateneo Blue Eagles their first loss in the 2012 FilOil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup at the San Juan Arena last Saturday, 63-61.
In the highly anticipated summer matchup between the defending UAAP and the NCAA champions, the Ateneo Blue Eagles played their best and worst basketball in a span of 40 minutes, which culminated in an offensive breakdown late in the fourth quarter. This win gives San Beda sole custody of the number one spot, with an untainted 3-0 record, while Ateneo drops to second at 2-1.
With a sense of urgency that was absent in their past two games, Ateneo went on a 12-0 run and gained early ground over the Lions in the first quarter, 20-8. The Eagles played zone defense that suffocated the Bedans scoreless in the last four minutes. Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva led the first quarter surge for the four-peat champions as they scored six and four points respectively.
Quality minutes from bench players Tonino Gonzaga, Oping Sumalinog, Justin Chua and Nico Elorde provided the hustle in the second quarter, helping Ateneo build a 13-point lead at the half with the score 36-23. Meanwhile, UAAP Season 74 rookie of year Kiefer Ravena scored five of his 10 points in the second half, including one of Ateneo’s two three-point attempts.
The Lions returned in the second half with an early 8-4 run courtesy of consecutive baskets by Rome Dela Rosa, Julius Armon and Ryusei Koga. San Beda won the third quarter with a 16-point performance and brought the score down to 48-39 prior to the fourth quarter. Slaughter and Ravena combined for nine of Ateneo’s 12 points in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter saw Adegoun and Amer take over for the Mendiola squad. Adegoun scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter and aided a 7-0 run that brought San Beda to just two points away from Ateneo, 46-48. Amer, a high school standout from Davao City, tied the game for the first time at 50 via a fast-break lay-up.
Baskets by Slaughter and Ravena put the Eagles back up by four but a conversion by Armon gave San Beda its first lead of the game at 58-57 with 1:39 remaining. A jumper by Juami Tiongson tied the game for the sixth and final time in favor of Ateneo at 59 with less than a minute to go. However, Ateneo turned the ball over in two crucial possessions and Amer buried four crucial free throws that gave the Lions victory at 63-61.
“We were unable to match San Beda’s energy in the second half; we got discouraged when we missed shots and we made lapses late in the game,” said Coach Sandy Arespacochaga. True enough, Ateneo shot a dismal 13% (2 out of 16) from beyond the arc and a poor 33% (22 out of 66) from the field, while the Lions scored 17 second-chance points and 12 points from turnovers by Ateneo.
Arespacochaga added that this loss shows the boys the good and the bad they are capable of doing. “We have to make it a point to play every game with that sense of urgency,” he said.
In contrast, San Beda did not attempt a single three-point shot, and was 36% (25 out of 69) from the field.
Quarter Scoring: 8-20, 23-36, 39-48, 63-61
Box Scores:
Ateneo, 61: Slaughter – 24, Ravena – 10, Salva – 6, Chua – 6, Gonzaga – 6, Tiongson – 3, Sumalinog – 2, Elorde – 2, Erram – 2
San Beda, 63: Adeogun – 16, Amer – 14, Dela Rosa – 10, Armon – 8, Pascual J. – 4, Koga – 4, Caram – 2, Pascual K. – 2, Lim – 2, Ludovice – 1.
