Photo by Mario T. Dagdag

AFTER WRAPPING up a twice to beat advantage by toppling archrivals De La Salle University in their previous game, the Blue Eagles looked to have their eyes clearly on an automatic berth into the finals.

With the focus and determination displayed by star center Greg Slaughter, a sweep of the regular season doesn’t look farfetched. Despite fighting off constant double teams and harassing defense, the Cebuano center finished off the UP Fighting Maroons by notching 18 points to go along with his 18 rebounds, as the Blue Eagles swept the Battle of Katipunan 73-58, on September 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

While the match-up featured two of the league’s best fast break teams, the game was decided by Ateneo’s ability to score in the half court, relying heavily on Slaughter’s ability to draw fouls on UP’s overmatched big man rotation—finishing the game 10 of 15 from the free throw line.

The first half showed no precursor to the lopsided final score; the UP Fighting Maroons used constant flashing double teams to harass the Blue Eagles into turnovers, slowing down the vaunted Ateneo offense.

Mike Silungan’s three point field goal with 2:50 left in the first half gave UP their largest lead of the game at 28-22. But that would be the State University’s final lead as Ateneo ended the half on a 9-0 burst.

Nico Salva came to life in the second half scoring 14 of his 16 points after the break, the majority coming on drop steps and drives where the hapless UP forwards were simply outmatched by the forward’s length, quickness and creativity. The Blue Eagles, however, did continue to find it difficult to keep possession turning the ball over 22 times, allowing the Fighting Maroons to hang around coming into the fourth, 54-47.

The Blue Eagles buckled down in the fourth quarter, keeping UP to just two points over the next six and a half minutes.  UP did however score eight points in the final minute and a half to cut the margin to a respectable 15 points.

While Slaughter’s performance will rightfully draw the majority of praise, much should be made of Justin Chua’s production, who finished with 11 points and 10 boards–easily his best outing of the season thus far.

“We are at a point where I’m not concerned statistically.  I’m more concerned about wins and figuring out ways during the game to get wins,” Ateneo coach Norman Black said.

The Blue Eagles next face the NU Bulldogs on Saturday, 1:00 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Scoring Leaders

Ateneo 73—Slaughter 18, Salva 16, Chua 11, Ravena 7, Tiongson 5, Long 5, Austria 4, Gonzaga 3, Erram 2, Monfort 2, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0, Sumalinog 0.

UP 58—Silungan 16, Juruena 12, Maniego 7, Romero 6, Montecastro 4, Gamboa 4, Mbah 3, Wierzba 2, Gomez 2, Manuel 1, Gingerich 1, Pascual 0.

Quarter scores

15-14, 32-28, 52-45, 73-58.