AFTER OPENING this year’s campaign with a victory over the Adamson Falcons, the Ateneo Blue Eagles proved victorious once more as they handed archrival De La Salle University its second straight loss of the season in convincing fashion, 97-86, on July 20 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“[Whenever] I go back to the dugout, my emphasis would be is that this is just another win,” Coach Bo Perasol said after the game. “This is not [a] times two, this is not [a] times three win. This is just one win off our slate.”
Unable to match La Salle’s intensity early on, Ateneo quickly fell behind during the first quarter. Green Archer Jeron Teng scored on consecutive drives to the basket to start the game, while veterans Almond Vosotros and Jason Perkins connected from beyond the arc. The immediate La Salle surge help put the Green Archers up, 4-13, halfway through the opening quarter.
Not long after Perasol called time to halt the Green Archer’s momentum, the Blue Eagles slowly regained their footing. Ateneo once again began to display the defensive energy that they exhibited during their season opener. With both Kiefer Ravena and Chris Newsome saddled to the bench due to early foul trouble, senior wingman Von Pessumal alongside rookie center Arvin Tolentino took charge and stabilized the Blue and White’s sputtering offense. Pessumal and Tolentino sparked Ateneo with a couple of strong moves to the basket to keep the game close, 17-24, at the end of the first.
Though the Blue Eagles began the second quarter without a formidable big man and their leading scorer on the bench, a strong offensive outing from Pessumal propelled Ateneo to gain the momentum. He ended up scoring 9 of his 12 first half points on an array of moves and allowed Ateneo to finally overcome La Salle’s lead, 29-28, with still 6:47 left on the clock.
Aside from Pessumal, former Green Archer Ponso Gotladera also stepped up against La Salle. He showed everyone that he just might be the kind of interior presence Ateneo needs as he relentlessly battled the La Salle big men for rebounds and possessions.
At the end of the half, Ateneo led La Salle, 39-37.
As the third quarter began, Ateneo’s commitment to play small ball was evident as their guards continued to exploit and pressure La Salle’s backcourt. Pessumal opened the quarter by scoring 7 straight, all on the account of assists from a revitalized Ravena. In addition, Ravena also added 9 points in the quarter. The strong inside game of Perkins and Arnold Van Opstal, however, kept the Green Archers within two, 61-59, as the game was set to enter the final quarter of the game.
Eager to tie the game and set things anew, Van Opstal opened the fourth with a strong inside basket to bring the game to 61-all at the 8:57 mark. Unfortunately for La Salle, Ravena caught fire and found nothing but net on his next three shots from beyond the arc. Another three courtesy of Tolentino capped an 11-5 run that allowed Ateneo to gain the lead for good, 75-66, and ultimately silence the Green and White hopeful.
Despite Coach Juno Sauler’s boys last attempt to overcome the Blue Eagles, the steady play of Gotladera in the paint and Elorde’s steady stroke from the line secured the win for Ateneo, 97-86.
In spite of the impressive win from the boys in blue, Ateneo was intensely outscored by La Salle in the shaded area, 48-26. The Green Archers, however, were unable to capitalize on Ateneo’s poor inside offense as they managed to score only 28 perimeter points as opposed to Ateneo’s 46. Both teams were evenly matched when it came to rebounding, as Ateneo recorded 51 boards as compared to La Salle’s 50.
Ravena once again led Ateneo with 29 points and 5 rebounds. Pessumal also added 21 points and 7 rebounds followed by Tolentino’s double-double effort of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, Gotladera made his presence felt inside as he tallied 17 points and 8 rebounds.
Jason Perkins and Jeron Teng led La Salle with individual double-double performances, scoring 25 and 18 points apiece and tallying 10 and 12 boards, respectively.
“It’s going to be an uphill climb against La Salle,” emphasized Perasol when asked on his thoughts against the defending champions. “If you’re going to coast, then I don’t think we’re going to win.”
Now with a tournament record of 2-0, the Blue Eagles’ will be facing the University of the Philippines on July 23, Wednesday, 2 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
THE SCORES
ATENEO 97 – Ravena 29, Pessumal 21, Gotladera 17, Tolentino 14, Elorde 9, Newsome 7, Babilonia 0, Capacio 0, Ravena 0, Apacible 0
LA SALLE 86 – Perkins 25, Vosotros 18, Teng 15, Van Opstal 10, Torres 8, Rivero 4, Sargent 2, Andrada 2, Salem 2, Torres 0, Montalbo 0, Bolick 0
Updated: 10:28 PM
