THE ATENEO Blue Eagles protected homecourt against the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers in the 2026 AsiaBasket NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour stint with an overtime victory, 119-115. The game took place earlier today, April 18, at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
This victory maintains Ateneo’s undefeated status with a 2-0 win-loss record, claiming solo first in the Group A standings.
Shawn Tuano led the way for the Blue Eagles with 25 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Team Captain Jared Bahay also poured out 24 points, with nine of his 24 points in the overtime period. Atenean sniper Kyle Gamber went perfect from beyond the arc, notching 18 points and the clutch putback for the Blue Eagles.
Both teams went back-and-forth to begin the first quarter, as the duo of Tuano and Logan Baltazar traded baskets with CSB’s Josh Cajucom, 5-5. Despite Tuano and Jelo Rota managing to take it to the hole, 9-8, CSB veterans Allen Liwag and Raffy Celis paved the way for the Blazers, leading to a four-point deficit for Ateneo, 10-14.
The Blue Eagles then continued to attack the basket, drawing multiple fouls for an 8-0, 18-14. Maintaining the intensity on the court, Gamber drained a jumper from deep range, while CSB’s Justine Sanchez scored back-to-back baskets in the paint, 24-20.
Eager to end the frame on a high note, Bahay knocked down a step-back jumper to give Ateneo a seven-point cushion, 29-22. However, with 0.2 seconds left on the clock, Andrew Bongo fouled Irele Galas of the Blazers, giving up a point to finish the quarter, 29-23.
Hoping to extend their lead, the Blue Eagles came out flying in the second quarter, executing a full court press that resulted in a 6-2 run for Ateneo, 35-23. Baltazar then forced a turnover in the half court, leading to a fastbreak layup and Benilde’s first timeout of the game, 37-25.
The offensive surge for the Blue and White continued as Kieffer Alas attacked the lane for a layup, 41-28. The star rookie showed his ability to drive to the basket, but veteran Raffy Celis answered with two jumpers of his own, 41-33. The Ateneo rookies then displayed their offensive prowess, with a eurostep finish from Alas and a catch-and-shoot triple from Jay-M Leal, 46-33.
Gamber sank a putback off his own miss to extend Ateneo’s lead, but CSB’s Liwag answered back after outmuscling his defenders, 49-42. Towards the end of the quarter, Tuano and Benilde’s Sanchez made it rain from distance, 52-45. Baltazar then sank two charities for Ateneo, giving them a nine-point cushion to end the half, 54-45.
The third quarter saw Waki Espina effectively penetrate the paint to keep Ateneo ahead by double-digits, 58-48. Despite a Celis trey and Liwag post basket, 53-58, the Blazers failed to contain the Blue Eagles’ relentless attacks to basket, 63-53. With CSB forced to clog the paint against Ateneo’s consecutive layups, Kyle Gamber took advantage of the additional floor spacing with consecutive triples, 69-56.
Continuing to catch fire, Tuano and Gamber drilled long-distance bombs, 75-62. However, Ateneo’s reckless fouls placed them in penalty, allowing CSB to cut the deficit, 78-71. From there, it was the Malate-based unit who dominated the paint, capped off by a Galas layup to end the quarter with Ateneo’s advantage trimmed to threes, 81-78.
Regaining control of the tempo, Season 87 Team Captain Bahay led the Blue and White on a 7-0 blitz to start the final period, 88-78. Ateneo’s pesky full-court pressure proved crucial in forcing turnovers and providing Tuano and Alas with layup opportunities, 92-82.
However, the Blazers’ continued success in getting to the charity line coupled with Liwag’s offensive rebounds once again permitted CSB to close the distance, 95-89. Quick to respond, Ian Espinosa then dazzled the crowd with a spin-move layup followed by a three from Tuano to stabilize the Blue Eagles, 100-90.
In another late-game response, however, Ateneo’s turnovers gave CSB another chance to make a comeback, 103-98. With eight seconds left, Mowell Morales cashed a triple to further apply pressure, 103-101. After Espina’s split conversion at the free-throw line, 104-101, Ian Torres banked a buzzer-beating three to send the game into overtime, 104-104.
Bahay came out firing in the extended frame, scoring on Liwag to give Ateneo the lead, 106-104. The Blue Eagle captain continued his forays to the basket, drawing a foul and sinking a free throw, 107-106. Yet, the Katipunan-based team lost the lead after giving up an and-one drive to Morales, 107-108.
With their backs against the wall, sophomore Bahay went on a personal 4-0 run with a jumper and pair of free throws to give Ateneo the lead, 111-108.
Baltazar then managed to secure a putback off of an Alas missed layup, extending Ateneo’s cushion to five, 113-108. The lead was then trimmed as Benilde’s Morales, once again, drove through the lane for an and-one basket,113-110.
Despite the Blazers’ attempt to come back, the Blue Eagles stood their ground and extended the lead with a putback from Gamber and free throws from Bahay, 117-110. Liwag then sank a putback off of a missed three-pointer from Ancheta, but Espinosa answered with two charities, 119-112.
With three seconds left in the overtime period, CSB’s Torres banked a desperation jumper from beyond the arc, but it was not enough as Ateneo ultimately secured the victory, 119-115.
Looking to end the group phase with a spotless record, the Blue Eagles will face the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons tomorrow, April 19, 4:00 PM at the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (119): Tuano – 25, Bahay – 24, Gamber – 18, Baltazar – 11, Alas – 10, Bongo – 8, Espina – 7, Leal – 6, Espinosa – 5, R0ta – 5, Edu – 0
CSB (115): Liwag – 26, Sanchez – 19, Celis – 16, Ancheta – 10, Baliquig – 9, Gonzaga – 9, Morales – 8, Galas – 6, Cajucom – 5, Jucom – 4, G0 – 2, Podador – 1, Daja – 0,
Quarter/Set scores:
Ateneo-CSB:
Group A Current Standings (W-L):
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (2-0)
- CSB Blazers (1-1)
- UP Fighting Maroons (0-0)
- LPU Pirates (0-2)
