MATT NIETO dropped a career-high 22 points to help the Ateneo Blue Eagles hold on and take the win over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Basketball tournament on Wednesday, September 27 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Blue Eagles are the lone undefeated team in the UAAP at 5-0 on the standings. On the other hand, the Growling Tigers fall to their worst start in team history at 0-5.
In similar record-breaking fashion, Matt Nieto also drilled a career-best four triples, nearly matching the five total three-pointers he tallied last season. Isaac Go was a spark off the bench and dropped a season-high 13 points on 5/8 from the field. Thirdy Ravena had 12 points on a shaky 4/11 shooting, but managed to contribute 11 rebounds and five assists.
Meanwhile, Marvin Lee and Jordan Sta. Ana were on fire all night long, combining for 43 of UST’s 84 points. Lee had a season-high 22 markers, while Sta. Ana had 21 points along with four rebounds and five assists.
The Growling Tigers stormed out of the gate, going on an 8-0 run in the opening minutes after Anton Asistio’s midrange jumper. The Katipunan-based squad’s turnovers and trouble on the offensive glass plagued them early on, but the team eventually gained the lead after a layup by Gian Mamuyac. The pace of the game slowed down midway through the period, with fouls and free throws coloring the possessions of both squads. The Blue Eagles went on a 12-5 run, capped by an Isaac Go dish to Raffy Verano, to end the period with a five-point cushion at 28-23.
Ateneo’s offense stagnated early in the ensuing quarter, as UST regained the lead through Lee’s crafty bucket from the post. The Blue Eagles then exploded for 13 unanswered points, with Matt Nieto scoring seven straight and his brother Mike capping the stretch with a triple. The run brought the Blue Eagles’ lead to double digits, 48-37, but Sta. Ana’s relentless presence kept UST alive as they cut the deficit back to single digits, 50-42, with a minute remaining. Go ended the period with a triple at the buzzer, widening a 12-point gap (55-43) heading into the break.
Ateneo continued to pour in the points as the third quarter commenced, lighting up a 14-4 run highlighted by Matt Nieto’s third make from the distance. The Blue Eagles’ starting point guard orchestrated onslaught after onslaught, notching another triple and dishing to Chibueze Ikeh for a huge slam.
Things began to go south for the Blue Eagles as the third period progressed. UST fought tooth and nail to trim a 22-point deficit to single digits, 76-71, courtesy of a 14-0 run, with Sta. Ana and Lee shouldering the offensive load for the Growling Tigers during the miraculous comeback.
The Growling Tigers amped up their defensive pressure in the final period and slowed down the Blue Eagles’ attack. A Lee triple brought down Ateneo’s lead to single digits, 81-80, but a trio of baskets by Asistio, Tolentino, and Ravena stopped the bleeding. The pace of the game slowed as the clock winded down, turning the free throw line into the main source of points in the game’s dying moments. With a little under a minute remaining, Matt Nieto concluded his standout performance with a midrange jumper through contact as the Blue Eagles pulled away with the win.
After the match, the Blue Eagles’ Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga was not happy with the team’s performance despite the good result. “I’m taking nothing away from UST because they played a good game. They have very good playmakers who drive well,” he explained. “We aren’t happy that we gave up 23 points in the first quarter, 20 points in the second, and 28 in the third.”
The Blue Eagles’ penultimate match of the first round will be against the National University (NU) Bulldogs (3-2) on September 30, Saturday, 4:00 PM at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Quarter Scores
Ateneo-UST: 29-23, 55-43, 76-71, 94-84
Box Scores
Ateneo (94) – Nieto Ma. – 22, Go – 13, Ravena – 12, Mamuyac – 8, Ikeh – 7, Asistio – 7, Nieto Mi. – 6, Tolentino – 5, Verano – 4, Tio – 3, Mallillin – 3, Black – 2, Mendoza – 2,
UST (84) – Lee – 22, Sta. Ana – 21, Faundo – 6, Escalambre – 6, Akomo – 6, Romero – 6, Garcia – 4, Huang – 4, Basibas – 4, Soriano – 3, De Guzman – 2
