DESPITE having been eliminated from postseason contention, the Ateneo Blue Eagles once again stormed España with rejuvenated confidence, outlasting the Final Four-seeking University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 71-67.
The Blue Eagles’ penultimate assignment in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 took place earlier this evening at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion in the City of Manila.
With their much-needed victory that places them at 4-9, the Blue Eagles will avoid infamy as they clear themselves of possibly recording Ateneo’s worst-ever finish in the Final Four era. However, the Tab Baldwin-coached squad will need to win their final game of the season to prevent tying the school’s all-time low record of 4-10.
Andrew Bongo bagged Player of the Game honors after producing 15 points and six rebounds. Forwards Shawn Tuano and Chris Koon also boosted the Blue Eagles’ offense with 13 and 12 markers, respectively.
The Wednesday contest entered an early slugfest as both teams exchanged baskets, with veteran Josh Lazaro quickly scoring four points to set the tone for the Blue and White. The Red Warriors immediately responded by generating a balanced scoring attack capped off by a Devin Fikes slam that put Ateneo at an 8-9 deficit.
Although the Recto-based squad gained momentum with a five-point swing off a Shawn Tuano turnover, the sophomore made up for his error with aggressive drives to the basket. The two-way capabilities of forwards Tuano, Bongo, and Koon allowed Ateneo to match UE’s perimeter scoring, allowing the Loyola Heights-based unit to take a 21-16 advantage at the end of the first period.
In the second quarter, Tuano’s relentless efforts in attacking the paint paid dividends, forcing Fikes to commit his third personal foul. Taking advantage of an already-depleted Red Warriors frontcourt, the Blue Eagles attacked UE’s interior defense and spread the floor to leap to a 15 point lead, 35-20.
The Tab Baldwin-coached squad also utilized full-court pressure to hamper what has been a highly-effective UE offense for most of the season. Ateneo’s stingy defense forced the Red and White to commit six turnovers and shoot a dreadful 10/36 from the field in the first half.
Despite the Blue Eagles showcasing one of their best halves of the season, Wello Lingolingo’s scoring prowess propelled UE to slowly find their rhythm and cut Ateneo’s lead to 40-31 at the halftime break.
Replicating their strong first half showing, the Blue Eagles fought to nurse their lead to begin the third quarter, with a Koon triple extending their advantage to double-digits, 48-37. However, the Red Warriors responded with a downpour of threes courtesy of Rain Maga and Ethan Galang to cut the Blue and White’s advantage to five, 45-50.
Despite Tuano and Porter’s lethal offensive production at the midpoint of the frame, the Blue Eagles could not contain UE’s perimeter specialists, who sliced Ateneo’s cushion to 55-51 at the end of the third.
In a meltdown reminiscent of their first-round encounter with the same team, the Blue Eagles entered the final frame giving up a 9-3 run, as they struggled to guard the paint, 60-60. UE eventually took control of the contest after a Jack Cruz-Dumont layup, 62-60.
Responding to adversity in a high-pressure environment, veterans Koon and Bongo both nailed crucial baskets to bring their team back to within one, 64-65. Rookie sensation Jared Bahay continued his squad’s late game efforts, sinking a cold-blooded sidestep three to regain the lead for the Blue Eagles, 67-65. Bahay once again showcased his late-game heroics as his go-ahead layup attempt after a UE basket was deemed successful after a goaltending call on Fikes, 69-67.
Mirroring the events of Ateneo’s last game in the Quadricentennial Pavilion against UST, the final moments of the match was decided anew by Team Captain Sean Quitevis. The fifth-year guard converted two clutch free throws on the other end to seal the win for the Blue Eagles, 71-67.
The hard-fought victory served as a huge morale booster for a team who has suffered consecutive demoralizing losses. “When you haven’t been able to gel as well as we would like to as a team throughout the year, it really comes down to effort. I think the guys spoke as a team. With a lot of people saying it’s a lost season, they don’t feel that way,” Baldwin expressed when asked about the performance of his players.
The Blue Eagles will look to conclude their season on a positive note against the Adamson Soaring Falcons next Saturday, November 23, at 6:30 PM, in the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Box scores:
Ateneo (71): Bongo – 15, Tuano – 13, Koon – 12, Lazaro – 11, Bahay – 11, Espinosa – 5, Quitevis – 2, Porter – 2, Ong – 0, Gamber – 0, Espina – 0
UE (67): Maga- 15, Abate- 11, Fikes- 9, Lingolingo- 8, Galang- 8, Cruz-Dumont- 6, Wilson- 4, Spandonis- 3, Cruz-Dumont- 2, Malaga- 1, Mulingtapang- 0
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-UE: 21-16, 40-31, 55-51, 71-67
Current Standings (W-L):
- DLSU Green Archers (12-2)
- UP Fighting Maroons (9-3)
- UST Growling Tigers (6-7)
- UE Red Warriors (6-7)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (5-7)
- FEU Tamaraws (5-8)
- NU Bulldogs (5-9)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (4-9)
