THE TITLE returns to Loyola Heights in the third installment of the Battle of Katipunan, as the Blue Eagles secure gold in a Game 3 thriller against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. Ateneo denied UP of a historic back-to-back championship run in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) after a 75-68 triumph earlier tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The win gives the Blue and White their 12th championship in the Men’s Basketball tournament since joining the UAAP in 1978, and their fourth since Tab Baldwin was named head coach of Ateneo.
In his final game for the Blue and White, Finals MVP Ange Kouame delivered by scoring 19 points, hauling in 12 rebounds, swatting four blocks, and most importantly, securing the championship for Ateneo.
The Blue Eagles entered the do-or-die match with every intent to take the crown back to Loyola Heights. Nine straight points combined with a suffocating zone defense saw Ateneo gain the early momentum, holding UP scoreless in the first three minutes. Ateneo defenders emphasized holding down Carl Tamayo as they sent double teams every time the ball came to him in the post. The bench also played a huge role in the latter half of the quarter as a second 9-0 run highlighted by two triples from Gab Gomez helped Ateneo take full control of the quarter. The Blue Eagles ended the first canto with a stunning 30-14 lead.
[First Quarter]
— Ralph Bautista (@Ralph_TheGUIDON) December 19, 2022
Gomez pulls up for a quick transition triple with confidence!
Ateneo 19 UP 6#UAAPBasketball
Ateneo started out slower in the second quarter after giving up two threes to the UP squad, but they quickly countered with four points of their own. In search of a spark, UP Head Coach Goldwyn Monteverde fielded a triple big lineup of Malick Diouf, Henry Galinato, and Tamayo, which prompted Coach Baldwin to take out Kai Ballungay in favor of more size in Matthew Daves.
Late into the quarter, bad fouls and a technical for Coach Baldwin swung the momentum over to UP, but a much-needed three pointer from Geo Chiu stopped the run. Despite UP’s efforts to hack into the Ateneo lead from the free throw line, Ateneo still managed to secure a 47-32 lead heading into halftime.
[Second Quarter]
— Ralph Bautista (@Ralph_TheGUIDON) December 19, 2022
Chiu's first triple of the season shifts the momentum back to Ateneo! UP calls for a huddle.
Ateneo 45 UP 31#UAAPBasketball
The Fighting Maroons showed the Ateneo faithful that they still had some fight left in them, coming out of the dugout looking to get rid of the double-digit lead. While Ateneo managed to force back-to-back turnovers to earn five points early, UP countered with a massive run led by JD Cagulangan and James Spencer. Even with star forward Tamayo coming out with an injury, the Maroons still managed to cut Ateneo’s lead to six, 50-56. A UP foul on a Gomez triple combined with an unsportsmanlike foul on Cagulangan gave away four free points to Ateneo as they ended the third up 60-52.
[Third Quarter]
— Ralph Bautista (@Ralph_TheGUIDON) December 19, 2022
Spencer strokes in another triple. UP has cut a 20-point Ateneo lead down to six.
Ateneo 56 UP 50#UAAPBasketball
The Blue Eagles Band of Brothers were up for a dogfight in the final quarter as the UP side remained relentless in ensuring they would not go down without a fight. Combined buckets from UP’s Harold Alarcon and Diouf, alongside Galinato’s free throws kept Ateneo well within arm’s reach. Ange Kouame responded with a triple, helping the Blue and White weather the storm, 67-55.
Looking to keep up the pressure, the Diliman-based squad was able to craft a tactical play in order to continue mowing down Ateneo’s lead. After being fouled by Dave Ildefonso, UP’s Alarcon knocked down the first free throw and intentionally missed the last to grab his own board and snipe a triple for a tight 70-67 game.
However, the Blue Eagles kept their composure as Andrade iced the match, securing two free throws with only 12.3 seconds to spare. With a last-second technical foul called on Ateneo, UP brought back the injured Zav Lucero to knock down one last free throw. Ateneo reclaimed their throne and avenged their season 84 loss with a 75-68 win.
[Fourth Quarter]
— Ralph Bautista (@Ralph_TheGUIDON) December 19, 2022
Andrade buries two clutch free throws! UP ball with 12.3 left.
Ateneo 72 UP 67#UAAPBasketball
The Loyola Heights-based squad now head into the offseason with renewed optimism even despite bidding farewell to several veteran cagers heading into Season 86. Their future title defense will not feature Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, BJ Andrade and Jacob Lao, as they are set to move on to the next stage of their professional careers.
However, Coach Baldwin was quick to address these concerns earlier this year, with the team awaiting the services of incoming star recruits. These prospects include Mason Amos, Kyle Gamber, and Jared Brown, who are all eligible to play in Season 86 with the hopes of repeating as UAAP champions.
Box Scores:
Ateneo (75): Kouame – 19, Padrigao – 12, Gomez – 12, Andrade – 10, Ballungay – 4, Chiu – 4, Daves – 4, Koon – 4, Quitevis – 4, Ildefonso – 2
UP (68): Spencer – 14, Alarcon – 12, Galinato – 12, Tamayo – 11, Cagulangan – 9, Diouf – 7, Gonzales – 2, Lucero – 1
Quarter Score:
Ateneo-UP: 30-14, 47-32, 60-52, 75-68
