THE ATENEO Blue Eagles kept their composure and survived the tough National University (NU) Bulldogs, 74-64, maintaining Ateneo’s immaculate 5-0 record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Men’s Season 84 Basketball tournament earlier today at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Both teams had a slow start but Ateneo threatened to pull away early after Ange Kouame’s back-to-back baskets and lay-in from SJ Belangel. However, NU’s Reyland Torres etched eight points in the opening quarter with two-and-one plays to keep his team within striking distance, 20-14.
The scrappy Bulldogs managed to cut down the deficit to 21-25 after a 7-0 run at the start of the second quarter. As domineering bigman Kouame went to the bench to nurse his shoulder after a minor entanglement with NU’s 6’9” center Issa Gaye, Geo Chiu made the most out of his playing time with consecutive inside baskets and a steal on the defensive end for Ateneo.
Dave Ildefonso also found his groove in the second period with two booming triples as well as a tough lefty lay-up finish against brother Shaun Ildefonso of the Bulldogs. The Blue Eagles finished the half, 41-33.
The Sampaloc-based squad managed to withstand the usual third quarter Ateneo surge, even trimming down the deficit to three, 46-49, through Clemente’s three, succeeded by three free throws after being fouled on an attempt by Team Captain Gian Mamuyac. Tyler Tio ended the third canto on a high note for Ateneo after swishing a three of his own and a creative one-legged midrange jumper, ending the quarter 58-50 for the Blue Eagles.
A sluggish start from Ateneo led to a 9-2 run for the Bulldogs in the opening of the fourth quarter. After a three from Torres inched the Bulldogs to 64-67, Ildefonso sliced through the defense with a basket inside to give Ateneo a five-point cushion.
Determined to extend Ateneo’s winning streak, Mamuyac then drained a crucial three-point dagger with 1:21 left in the game en route to a 72-64 lead. Raffy Verano, who had a knee-injury scare early in the first half, iced the game for the Katipunan-based squad with a lay-up, 74-64.
Ateneo also got a huge boost due to a monster outing from Gilas’ naturalized center Kouame, who had a near triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, eight blocks, and two steals.
Ildefonso led Ateneo with 14 points, while Belangel chipped in 11 markers and seven rebounds. Torres was NU’s leading scorer with 14.
After a near collapse at the hands of the Bulldogs, the Blue Eagles now shift their focus to their Thursday matchup against winless University of the East at the MOA Arena.
“We shouldn’t go out there trying to calibrate ourselves to our opponents. We should go out there and play the best basketball we are capable of,” mentioned Ateneo Head Coach Tab Baldwin.
Box Score:
Ateneo (74): Ildefonso – 14, Kouame – 12, Belangel – 11, Tio – 8, Mendoza – 7, Verano – 6, Mamuyac – 6, Chiu – 5, Koon – 4, Andrade – 1
NU (64): Torres – 14, Clemente – 12, Felicilda – 10, Malonzo – 6, Ildefonso – 5, Yu- 5, Manansala – 4, Figueroa – 2, Joson – 2, Enriquez – 2, Galinato – 2
