WINLESS NO more. The Ateneo Blue Eagles ended their three-game losing skid with a 71-59 triumph over Adamson University (AdU) at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
The Katipunan-based squad used a balanced attack to secure their first win of the season. Four players scored in double figures for the Ateneo, led by team captain Juami Tiongson’s team-high 15 points.
The defending champions also had the services of Kiefer Ravena for the match. Ravena, however, played limited minutes and posted just 4 points. The star guard has clearly not fully recovered from the grade 3 ankle sprain he suffered just before the start of the season.
With Ravena still not in top form, several players stepped up for Head Coach Bo Perasol, most notably Tiongson, Ryan Buenafe and JP Erram. Tiongson had a strong outing, hauling in 8 rebounds to go with his team-high 15 markers. Buenafe once again filled out the stat sheet, coming up an assist shy of a triple-double. The veteran recorded 11 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. The biggest difference, however, was the play of Erram.
Erram turned in his best performance of the season, contributing a double-double with 12 points on 6/9 shooting and 12 rebounds off the bench. Asked after the game how far he has come from his season-ending ACL injury in Season 75, the 6’7” center answered, “At this point, down kami 0-3. You don’t have to think about your injury. You just have to play your best.”
Aside from notching their first win, the Blue Eagles also overcame their Season 76 third quarter woes. After struggling in the third quarter during their first three games, Perasol’s troops scored 25 points in the penultimate period, including a 13-5 run at the end, extending their four-point halftime lead to double digits. Erram scored 10 of his 12 points in the pivotal third quarter to help his team to a 57-47 advantage after three quarters of action.
Erram, along with Frank Golla and Newsome, outplayed AdU’s Ingrid Sewa and Rodney Brondial inside the paint. The performance of Ateneo’s frontline was encouraging, especially since the team is still adjusting to life without former big men Greg Slaughter, Nico Salva and Justin Chua.
Led by their frontline, the Blue Eagles dominated the boards, 49-37. The Ateneo also kept a better handle of the ball in the second half, recording just five turnovers after giving away possession 13 times in the first 24 minutes.
Jericho Cruz led the Soaring Falcons with 21 points but did not have enough support from his teammates. Aside from Cruz, Roider Cabrera was the only other player to reach double digits, posting 14 points.
With the win, the Ateneo improves its win-loss record to 1-3. The Blue Eagles will seek to make it two in a row on Wednesday, July 17, as they go up against University of the East at the MOA Arena.
Box scores:
ADMU 71 – Tiongson 15, Erram 12, Buenafe 11, Newsome 10, Golla 6, Capacio 4, Ravena 4, Pessumal 3, Elorde 2, Lim 2, Tolentino 2, Enriquez 0.
AdU 59 – Cruz 21, Cabrera 14, Brondial 8, Sewa 4, Agustin 3, Iñigo 3, Abrigo 2, Monteclaro 2, Rios 2, Julkipli 0, Petilos 0, Trollano 0.
