THE ATENEO Blue Eagles won their second straight game by beating the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 65-50, on Sunday, October 23 in the Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.

With the win, the Blue Eagles retain their solo place in third and improve to a 6-4 win-loss record, while the Bulldogs fall to 4-7.

The Blue Eagles were led by Raffy Verano, who scored a career-high of 20 points on an efficient 8/13 shooting clip from the floor. Isaac Go followed by scoring nine points on 80% shooting in nine minutes, and GBoy Babilonia had six points and eight boards.

J-Jay Alejandro top-scored the Bulldogs with 13 points on 40% shooting from the three point line. Alfred Aroga had a near double-double with eight points and 16 rebounds, while Matthew Salem scored seven on 38% shooting.

Ateneo raced to a 7-0 lead to begin the game, with Anton Asistio hitting a triple followed up by back-to-back baskets from Vince Tolentino and Babilonia. Salem and Alejandro ended the NU drought with consecutive baskets of their own. Moments after, Tolentino scored his second basket with his patented running hook, but the Bulldogs responded through a 4-0 solo run by Alejandro. Towards the end of the quarter, Aaron Black, in his second game back from injury, scored shortly after being subbed in. His shot brought the Blue Eagles’ lead to three (11-8) to end the period.

Aroga opened the account for NU in the second quarter with a free throw, but Jolo Mendoza responded with a smooth finger roll that brought Ateneo’s lead to four points. The Blue Eagles then went on a 7-2 run, highlighted by a Ravena block on Aroga and five straight points from Verano, which forced NU to call a timeout. After the break in action, the Blue Eagles continued their run, with Verano and Wong each converting a fast break. Salem stopped the NU drought with an inside basket, but Verano continued his hot streak with a 4-0 solo run that brought the lead to 15 (28-13). After both teams traded baskets, Isaac Go ended the second period emphatically by banking in a fadeaway triple that gave the Blue and White an 18-point cushion (34-16) at halftime.

NU began the third period with a 6-2 run, courtesy of back-to-back triples by Alejandro. Black converted an inside basket moments after, but Diputado answered back with a calm layup. An unportsmanlike foul was called on Adrian Wong midway through the quarter, but Ateneo responded by matching NU point for point as the period progressed. With two minutes left in the period, Asistio and Verano each hit their second triples of the game that stretched the lead back to 18 (48-30). Go then traded baskets with Aroga and Morido to end the third quarter (52-34).

The Bulldogs started the fourth with a free throw by Gallego, but Go continued where he left off in the third quarter by softly putting in a basket. Towards the middle of the quarter, Verano started to catch fire yet again. He went on a 6-0 solo run, capped by a corner triple that brought the lead to 21 (60-39) and forced NU to call a timeout with 6:17 left in the match. Aroga hit a hook shot and Salem swished in a corner 3 to stop Ateneo’s run, but it proved to be too little too late for the Bulldogs as the Blue Eagles held on and won by 15, 65-50.

Ateneo huge second quarter proved to be key, as they scored 23 compared to the eight scored in the period. Verano himself outscored the whole Bulldogs squad in the second, 11-8. The Blue Eagles also shot 39% from the three point line, while the NU shot only 18% from the arc. Jme Escaler made his debut for the team in the fourth quarter.

After the game, Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga mentioned that execution was a key factor in the win. “We knew that NU’s system, especially defensively, is very tough. So we wanted to make sure that we executed offensively,” he explained. “We wanted to come out with a defensive mindset of our own, and I think we were able to do that.”

The Blue Eagles’ next scheduled game is against their arc rivals, the De La Salle University Green Archers on Saturday, Novermber 5, at 4PM at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Quarter Scores: 11-8, 34-16, 52-34, 65-50

Box Scores:

Ateneo: Verano- 20, Go- 9, Black- 7, Babilonia- 6, Asistio- 6, Tolentino- 6, Ravena- 4, Mi. Nieto- 3, Wong- 2, Mendoza- 2

NU: Alejandro- 13, Aroga- 8, Salem- 7, M. Diputado- 6, Morido- 5, J. Diputado- 3, Gallego- 3, Rangel- 3, Pate- 2