THE ATENEO Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT) took command of their 19th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup debut against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 72-52. The match was held earlier today, June 6, at the Playtime Filoil Centre in the City of San Juan. 

Following their first win of the tournament, Ateneo moved to second place in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) bracket standings. The victory also serves as the Blue Eagles’ first victory in the Filoil tournament since 2023. 

One-and-done recruit Travis Roberts starred as the top scorer for Ateneo with 17 points, while guards Kieffer Alas and Waki Espina contributed nine points each. 

Both teams placed emphasis on crashing the glass with Ateneo’s Travis Roberts and AdU’s Jonah Precious trading second-chance points to start the contest, 2-2. Struggling with reckless fouls, however, neither side failed to control momentum, 6-6. 

Alas then ignited Ateneo’s offense by draining a three-pointer, 11-6. While Kobe Demisana started to impose his will inside the paint, a triple from Jared Bahay and Roberts layup allowed the Blue Eagles to end the first quarter with a six-point lead, 18-12. 

The offensive pace quickened in the second quarter with both backcourts exchanging baskets, 22-17. Roberts then cashed a triple and finished a contact layup to create separation, 27-17. His efforts materialized as Espina, Kyle Gamber, and Michael Asoro contributed to an 11-0 blitz, 33-17. 

Adamson’s Gab Obusan interrupted the surge with a three-point play, 33-20, but new court additions Jay-M Leal and EJ Kapihe countered with their own paint conversions, 37-20. With minimal response to Ateneo’s outburst, a jumper from Alas sent the Blue Eagles into the break with a double-digit advantage, 44-25. 

Sustaining their momentum, Bahay and Roberts delivered long-distance bombs in the third quarter, 50-27. The Blue Eagles’ stifling defense prevented the Soaring Falcons from scoring until a Mathew Montebon jumper at the five-minute mark, 50-29.

The Katipunan-based squad also came out aggressive in transition to find easy baskets and maintain a sizable advantage at the end of the third quarter, 56-35. 

Despite victory looking inevitable, Ateneo stayed relentless on both ends of the floor, highlighted by Sultan Baruwa deflecting an alley-oop attempt, followed by a transition three from Bongo, 63-37. 

In a last-minute effort to make a comeback, Adamson mounted a 12-1 run behind Precious’ efforts, 64-49. However, Alden Cainglet stabilized Ateneo by driving to the rim for a layup, 66-49. As time expired, additional baskets from Roberts sealed the 20-point blowout victory for Ateneo, 72-52. 

Hoping to build upon their dominant debut, the AMBT will face the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on June 16, 5:00 PM at the same venue. 

Box scores: 

Ateneo (72):  Roberts – 17,  Alas – 9, Espina – 9, Bahay – 7, Rogers – 6, Kapihe – 6,  Asoro – 5,  Gamber – 3, Bongo – 3, Leal – 2, Cainglet – 2, Baruwa – 2, Espinosa – 1 

AdU (52):  Torres – 8, Montebon – 6, Obusan – 6, Precious – 6,  Demisana – 6, Tumaneng – 4, Anabo – 3, Mangarron – 3, Erolon – 3,  Cañete – 2, Perez – 2, Fransman – 2, Sajili – 1 

Quarter scores:

Ateneo-AdU: 18-12, 44-25, 56-35, 72-52

UAAP Bracket Standings: 

1. UP Fighting Maroons (3-0)
2. Ateneo Blue Eagles (1-0)
3. NU Bulldogs (2-1) 
4. DLSU Green Archers (1-1) 
5. FEU Tamaraws (1-1) 
6. UST Growling Tigers (1-2) 
7. Adamson Soaring Falcons (0-1)
8. Gilas Pilipinas Youth U18 (0-2)