THE ATENEO Blue Eagles defeated the San Beda University Red Lions, 76-62, in a battle of collegiate champions to secure the 12th FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup Championship on Saturday, June 30, at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Angelo Kouame was a force in the middle for Ateneo, putting up a huge double-double of 15 points and 16 rebounds to go along with 3 blocks en route to bagging the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Jolo Mendoza and Raffy Verano also chipped in 9 markers apiece for the winning side.
Mythical Five member Javee Mocon led the way for the Red Lions with his own double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Cameroonian reinforcement Donald Tankoua added 13 markers while Franz Abuda pitched in 9 points and 8 boards.
Ateneo came out aggressively to start the game, repeatedly scoring inside to take a 15-6 lead midway through the opening frame. San Beda responded by doubling their offensive intensity as a Calvin Oftana putback ended the period with Ateneo on top, 19-15.
[First Quarter]
Asistio with the layup over Dolinguez!
Ateneo 15 San Beda 6#FilOil2018 pic.twitter.com/rBx4F06mVK
— Gerrick C. Limsiy (@Rick_TheGUIDON) June 30, 2018
A couple of triples by Gian Mamuyac and Mike Nieto at the start of the second saw the Blue Eagle lead balloon to 12. Tankoua tried to fire back for the Red Lions with an and-one play, but Mendoza and Kouame kept the momentum with the Blue and White. The Katipunan-based side entered the halftime break with a commanding 19-point lead, 45-26, courtesy of a 12-1 run to end the half.
[Second Quarter]
Isaac Go saves it to Mike Nieto for the triple! Ateneo opens up the first double digit spread of the ball game!
Ateneo 27 San Beda 15#FilOil2018 pic.twitter.com/2t2zcuxfXc
— Gerrick C. Limsiy (@Rick_TheGUIDON) June 30, 2018
[Second Quarter]
Kouame fakes the handoff and gets the layup plus the foul! He misses the bonus.
Ateneo 45 San Beda 26#FilOil2018 pic.twitter.com/FeRBERne4h
— Gerrick C. Limsiy (@Rick_TheGUIDON) June 30, 2018
The start of the third was characterized by a gritty defensive performance, with both teams limited to no more than four points until the five minute mark. After a short altercation between Kouame and James Canlas put Ateneo in the penalty, the Mendiola-based squad took full advantage as they repeatedly drew fouls to trim their deficit to 13. William Navarro’s free throws gave the Blue and White a 14-point advantage heading into the final frame, 56-42.
[Third Quarter]
Kouame with the chasedown block! But he is called for a foul. Kouame has some words for Canlas.
Ateneo 49 San Beda 30#FilOil2018 pic.twitter.com/AlrOpvivff
— Gerrick C. Limsiy (@Rick_TheGUIDON) June 30, 2018
Mocon continued to pressure the Blue Eagles with an and-one play at the start of the fourth, but the duo of Mendoza and Kouame once again came alive, combining for eight points to bring the lead back to 18 midway through the payoff period.
[Third Quarter]
Jolo Mendoza for three!!!
Ateneo 60 San Beda 44#FilOil2018 pic.twitter.com/SC11aa8rMy
— Gerrick C. Limsiy (@Rick_TheGUIDON) June 30, 2018
[Fourth Quarter]
Kouame beats the buzzer with a long two!
Ateneo 65 San Beda 47#FilOil2018 pic.twitter.com/lowRnDEktO
— Gerrick C. Limsiy (@Rick_TheGUIDON) June 30, 2018
However, the reigning NCAA Champions would not go down without a fight, clawing their way back with consecutive triples from Jeramer Cabanug and Abuda. Evan Nelle’s breakaway layup with 2:00 minutes remaining cut the lead to eleven, but a dagger triple from Verano ultimately iced the game. Thirdy Ravena’s free throw sealed the final score, 76-62.
[Fourth Quarter]
Matt Nieto kicks it out to Verano for three! Timeout San Beda with 1:38 left in the game. Lead is back to 14.
Ateneo 73 San Beda 59
#FilOil2018 pic.twitter.com/hTQFpekjMb— Gerrick C. Limsiy (@Rick_TheGUIDON) June 30, 2018
After the game, Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga commended the players for executing the defensive game plan successfully as the Blue Eagles limited San Beda to 29% shooting despite the lack of practice time.
“The players responded when we talked about matchups and how we should defend them,” Arespacochaga said. “You gotta give credit to [them] because we didn’t really have a practice on how to defend them. It was all verbal.”
Ateneo’s top deputy also praised his wards for reading the San Beda defense well. “We recognized that we didn’t see [Kouame] in the past few games when he was getting good position,” he admitted. “We’d like to commend our guards for recognizing that, and also the four guys that were with [Kouame].”
Coach Arespacochaga went on to praise Kouame’s MVP-winning performances, but insists that the big man can still improve in a lot of aspects in his game. “He’s a very good learner. He’s skilled; a bit raw in basketball experience, but he’s a sponge.”
The Blue Eagles, who played their third game days after arriving from Greece for extra training opportunities, were aided through their busy schedule by their strength and conditioning trainer, Coach Andrei Tolentino.
More than that, Arespacochaga believes it was Head Coach Tab Baldwin’s message that really pushed the team. “The mind will tell the body what it should do,’” Baldwin relayed.
Aside from winning the MVP Award, Kouame was also named to the Mythical Five Team alongside teammates Ravena and Matt Nieto, De La Salle University’s Justine Baltazar, and San Beda’s Javee Mocon.
With this win, the Blue Eagles secure their second championship in what has been an eventful preseason so far for Baldwin’s men. The crown marks the first time the Blue and White won it all in the tournament since Kiefer Ravena’s rookie season in 2011.
Quarter Scores:
Ateneo-San Beda: 19-15, 45-26, 56-42, 76-62
Box Score:
Ateneo (76): Kouame – 15, Mendoza – 9, Verano – 9, Ravena – 7, Belangel – 7, Mike Nieto – 6, Asistio – 6, Go – 6, Mamuyac – 5, Navarro – 3, Maagdenberg – 3, Matt Nieto – 0, Tio – 0, Wong – 0, Black – 0, Andrade – 0
San Beda (62): Mocon – 14, Tankoua – 13, Abuda – 9, Canlas – 7, Dolinguez – 6, Nelle – 5, Cabanag – 4, Oftana – 2, Cariño – 2, Tongco – 0, Bolick – 0, Eugene – 0, Cuntapay – 0, Burri – 0
