COMING OFF a dramatic double overtime win against the University of the East Red Warriors, the surging Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws seemed ready to trample over the Ateneo Blue Eagles during their second round match-up. The Ateneo, however, had other plans as they reigned supreme over the league leaders, 92-73, on August 28 in the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Despite scoring the first basket of the game, FEU simply could not find an answer for the Ateneo, who played with what was arguably one of its best offensive efforts this season. An early three-pointer from shooting guard Kiefer Ravena got things started for the team. It did not take long for the Blue Eagles to get in the scoring as they embarked on a 14-6 run that secured their the lead for the entire game. At the end of the first, they led the Tamaraws 26-13.
In the second quarter, Team Captain Juami Tiongson was all over the court as he scored eight of his 20 points, furthering extend the Ateneo’s lead to 22 with still 3:16 left to play in the half. FEU’s Raymar Jose tried his best to keep the Tamaraws in the game by playing tough in the interior, but his efforts were simply not enough to respond to the Ateneo’s offensive onslaught.
Aside from Tiongson’s impressive showing, the Ateneo’s bench also provided Coach Bo Perasol with quality play during the quarter. Led by junior swingman Von Pessumal, who tallied all of his five markers in the second, they scored almost half of the Ateneo’s second quarter output to keep their team on top at the half, 51-28.
The Ateneo was equally as impressive defensively: They limited FEU’s high-scoring backcourt duo of Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia to a measly six points apiece during the first two quarters of the game. The team’s thin frontcourt also managed to limit Tamaraw big man Anthony Hargrove to just two points.
Once play resumed, the Ateneo quickly showed that the halftime break was not enough to slow them down. Tiongson once again led the charge with another 8-point quarter showing that included back-to-back threes and was capped off by two split free throws to bring the Blue Eagle lead to its highest at 31, 69-38, with four minutes left to play in the third.
In the fourth quarter of the game, the Tamaraws ended up outscoring Ateneo, 19-28, but their efforts proved futile as the Blue Eagles managed to stay in step with them all throughout. Romeo would end up scoring 13 of his 19 points in the fourth, but this wasn’t enough; the Ateneo repeatedly pounded ball in the inside, despite having lost JP Erram to an apparent knee injury early on in the third. Consecutive three point opportunities from Chris Newsome, Frank Golla and rookie Vince Tolentino allowed the Eagles to maintain their lead and frustrate any of the comeback attempts of the Tamaraws.
This was the fifth straight win for the Ateneo and the second consecutive game wherein two players scored at least 18 points or more. Tiongson top billed for the Blue Eagles with 20 markers an impressive 4 of 5 shooting from beyond the arc. Ravena, who is looking more and more like his old self, followed up with a near double-double performance of 18 points and 9 rebounds.
Perasol expressed in an after game interview that it really did not matter how the team won their games, as long as they did. He said, “During halftime, I told the guys that it’s not even about the lead. It’s about the necessity to win because if we’re not going to win, we’re not going to be in the Top 4.”
Ateneo will try to extend their winning streak with the De La Salle Green Archers at 4pm on Sunday, September 1, 2013 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Both teams are currently tied in the standings at 6-4.
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BOX SCORES
ATENEO- Tiongson 20, Ravena 18, Newsome 11, Tolentino 9, Golla 9, Buenafe 9, Pessumal 5, Elorde 5, Capacio 4, Erram 2, Murphy 0, Enriquez 0, Asuncion 0, Asistio 0.
FEU- Romeo 19, Garcia 11, Tolomia 9, Pogoy 9, Hargrove 6, Belo 6, Jose 5, Inigo 3, Cruz 3, Lee Yu 2, Sentcheu 0, Mendoza 0, Luz 0, Dennison 0, Delfinado 0, Aguilon 0.
