MEETING FOR the first time in the preseason against their foes from last year’s UAAP finals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles played textbook, unselfish basketball to oust the FEU Fighting Tamaraws out of the race for the FilOil semis with a convincing 74-63 victory at the San Juan Arena on June 6.

Bouncing back from the overtime loss against archrival De La Salle, the Blue Eagles showcased their signature defense that wore down the offensive juggernaut FEU, limiting the Tamaraws to a subpar 34 percent from the field (22 out of 64).

Hotshot RR Garcia, the 2010 UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP), was grounded by the pesky defense of Blue Eagles Juami Tiongson and Nico Elorde. Thus, he ended the game with only 8 points (20 percent from the field and 0 from 3pt land).

Slaughter, who returned to the lineup after missing the game against DLSU due to an ankle strain, led the Blue Eagles with a team-high 29 points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes of action. Slaughter shot 69 percent (11 out of 16) from the field and was 70 percent (7 out of 10) from the stripe.

The first quarter featured both teams starting on even ground. Terrence Romeo got going early as he scored 8 of his team-high 13 points in the first quarter. Romeo ran the Tamaraw offense and charged to the hoop for the kiss off the glass. On the other hand, balanced scoring from Oping Sumalinog, JP Erram, Nico Salva and Slaughter kept Ateneo in hindsight of FEU, 16-15, after the first period.

FEU built a 21-15 lead at the seven-minute mark of the second quarter after big man Arvie Bringas scored in traffic and Romeo drained a three in consecutive plays.

Anthony Hargrove, the Tamaraws’ prized recruit from Pius X High School, Pennsylvania USA, has proven this entire preseason that he is a force to be reckoned with. Blessed with explosiveness and athleticism, Hargrove tallied 12 points, 9 rebounds and 1 block. His presence in the paint made it difficult for Ateneo’s highfliers on both ends of the floor. Hargrove snatched rebounds and his defense forced any Blue Eagle on offense to change their shots in the last second.

Hargrove wowed the spectators in the arena when he elevated for a thunderous two-handed jam to keep FEU up, 24-21 with 3:40 left in the second quarter. Two minutes later, the ferocious 6’6” forward jammed in two more dunks, including a slam that posterized [1] a helpless Erram in the paint.

With 1:12 left in the half, FEU was still up, 31-27, when the referees called A. Bringas for a double technical foul for trash-talk and unsportsmanlike conduct, thus ejecting him from the game. Apparently, A. Bringas had a few things to say to Slaughter who denied his shot in the previous play. Kiefer Ravena took the four free throws for Ateneo but only made two that brought the lead down to 31-29.  Meanwhile, a long two from Garcia–only one of his two made shots from the field–pegged the score at 33-30 in favor of FEU at the end of the first half.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Sumalinog, who was perfect from beyond the arc, launched a three that tied the game at 33-33 and sparked a 10-2 Ateneo run that lasted until 4:25 left in the third period. Tiongson buried back-to-back threes and Slaughter scored from the paint and the perimeter that gave Ateneo the lead, 43-38.

Later, FEU guard Mike Tolomia came off the bench and exploded for 8 points in a 12-5 run that brought FEU one point away from the Loyola squad, 51-50, at the end of the third period.

In the fourth quarter, the second unit composed of Ryan Buenafe, Tonino Gonzaga, Frank Golla and Justin Chua gave Ateneo at 56-50 lead, allowing the starters a breather on the bench.  When Ateneo head coach Norman Black re-inserted Ravena, Salva and Slaughter back with 8:00 left to play, there was no turning back for the blue and white.

Gonzaga made two shots from beyond the arc, Tiongson weaved through the FEU defense for a lay up, Kiefer Ravena slashed to the hoop for the easy basket and Slaughter dunked the ball to give Ateneo its biggest lead of the game, 68-58, near the two-minute mark. At the sound of the final buzzer, Ateneo won 74-63.

“It was a team win,” said Slaughter. When asked about his dominant performance, he said, “Everyone played great today. We really wanted to win.”

Playing through mild tendonitis, Kiefer Ravena had an uncharacteristic night offensively. He scored only 6 points and was 20 percent from the field (2 out of 10), but he contributed a notable 9 rebounds and 7 assists—many of which went to Slaughter. “There’s no time to rest so I have to suck it up and play through it,” shared Kiefer. “Knowing I wasn’t at my best offensively, I tried to get the ball to my teammates.”

Assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga pointed out that the win was a result of the boys buying into playing as a team. “The boys shared the ball great today and they know they have many teammates who can score,” he shared. Coach Sandy also commended the defense individually and as a whole, explaining that this allowed the Eagles to limit FEU’s points in the second half.

“We’re slowly getting in shape for the UAAP, mentally and physically. This win against FEU is a sign of that progress,” he said.

When asked about Ravena’s injury, which may lead to speculation that Ravena will experience a sophomore slump this Season 75, Coach Sandy shares that “Kiefer’s been taking good shots, but they haven’t been going in. We’re not worried because those shots will come as the entire team gets more prepared for the coming UAAP season.”

The Blue dominated the boards, 50-37, and their defense in the second half shut down FEU’s offense. 12 of FEU’s 30 points in the second half were made from the free throw line.

Ateneo will face the undefeated NU Bulldogs on Saturday, June 9, at the FilOil Arena. Tip off is at 3:15 in the afternoon.

Quarter Scores: 15-16, 30-33, 51-50, 74-63.

Box Scores:

ADMU – 74: Slaughter – 29, Tiongson – 12, Salva – 9, Gonzaga – 9, Sumalinog – 7, Ravena – 6, Erram – 2, Buenafe – 0, Elorde – 0, Chua – 0, Golla -0, Pessumal – 0, Porter – 0, Lim – 0, Capacio – 0, Babilonia – 0

FEU – 63: Romeo – 13, Hargrove – 12, Garcia – 8, Tolomia – 8, Cruz – 6, Belo – 5, Mendoza – 4, A. Bringas – 4, Escoto – 2, Sentcheu – 1, Pogoy – 0, M. Bringas – 0.

Percentages:

ADMU: 41% FG (28 out of 69); 40% 3pt (6 out of 15); 60% FT (12 out of 20)

FEU: 34% FG (64 out of 22); 21% 3pt (3 out of 14); 67% FT (16 out of 24)