UNABLE TO put an end to their three-game losing streak, the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team faltered in their second round opener against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 68-75. The match was held earlier today, October 22, at the Mall of Asia Arena in the City of Pasay. With this loss, the Blue Eagles moved to 4-4 in the elimination round standings of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament. 

Despite the defeat, the Blue Eagles saw another near triple-double performance from one-and-done Dominic Escobar, who tallied 15 points with nine rebounds and six assists. The Blue and White also benefited from rising star Waki Espina, who garnered 12 points with six rebounds. 

Opening the first frame, Kymani Ladi’s perimeter jumper and Shawn Tuano’s completed-and-one play kickstarted Ateneo’s offense, putting the game at an early tie, 5-5. From there, momentum seesawed as both squads ignited their offense, resulting in another deadlock at 13 after an Ian Espinosa split.

Putting his foot on the gas, Espina delivered back-to-back layups that gave the Blue Eagles a two-point edge, 17-15. While FEU’s Janrey Pasaol found the bottom of the net with his floater, 17-17, the Blue Eagles responded immediately, 20-17, after Lars Fjellvang recorded his first three of the season.

The start of the second frame did not favor the Katipunan-based squad as they failed to contain Jorick Bautista and Kirby Mongcopa, who tied the ball game, 21-21. Despite Jaden Lazo’s layup that gave Ateneo a two-point cushion, 23-21, the Blue Eagles saw themselves trailing by six after FEU’s 8-0 run, 23-29.

However, Jared Bahay instantly sparked the offensive rhythm of Ateneo with a three and a dime to Espinosa, who also drilled a trey to reclaim the lead for the Blue and White, 33-32. After spending the majority of the quarter on their backfoot, Ladi’s elbow jumper forced a standstill heading into halftime, 37-37.

Kicking off the second half in the tight affair, star recruits Escobar and Lazo scored with an and-one and a basket from deep, respectively, 43-39. Despite FEU’s 4-0 run to tie the match, 43-all, Lazo once again delivered from beyond the arc, 46-43.

As four minutes elapsed in the third frame, the Blue Eagles ramped up their defensive pressure, forcing the Tamaraws into difficult shots to stay in front, 50-45. However, Tamaraw foreign student athlete Mo Konateh imposed his height inside, nailing multiple short stabs to cut the Ateneo lead, 52-51. Following two more Konateh baskets in the paint, veteran Josh Lazaro nailed a crucial midrange basket as time elapsed in the third quarter, 54-55.

Both squads struggled to find their offensive rhythm in the early stages of the final quarter, as Mongcopa’s bank-shot broke both teams’ silence to increase the Blue Eagle disadvantage, 54-57. Quickly answering back, an incredible circus shot by Fjellvang, coupled with Tuano’s fastbreak layup, restored Ateneo’s lead, 58-57. However, the Tamaraws responded once more, forcing a deadlock at 63-all. 

After Escobar’s split at the charity stripe, 64-63, Tuano extended the lead to four with a clutch triple, 67-63. Despite such an effort, the Blue Eagles still could not sustain their momentum, giving up a 7-0 run capped by Bautista’s three, 67-70. 

With less than one minute left in the final frame, Escobar made one of two free throws, cutting the deficit to two, 68-70.  In need of one stop to take the lead, the Blue Eagles were unable to stop the Tamaraws from converting, as Bautista hit a dagger three, 68-73. 

Failing to convert on consecutive three-point attempts from Bahay and Escobar, time dwindled down as the Blue Eagles absorbed their fourth loss in a row, 68-75.

With hopes of sealing their first second round victory, the Blue Eagles will face the National University Bulldogs at 1:30 PM on Sunday, October 26, at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in the city of Manila.