THE ATENEO Blue Eagles outlasted the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 85-68 on Wednesday, September 25 at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
This win puts the Blue Eagles at a 6-0 slate in the elimination round standings of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82.
Ange Kouame led the Blue and White with 16 points on a 7/12 shooting clip and gobbled up 12 boards with nine offensive rebounds. Thirdy Ravena followed Kouame’s offensive output with 15 markers and five rebounds, respectively.
On the other hand, one-and-done Rey Suerte was the Red Warriors’ highest scorer, tallying 15 points and collecting six rebounds despite coughing up the ball a game-high six times.
The Blue Eagles trailed by a single point, 34-35, after the conclusion of the first half while shooting a collective 34% from the field and 3/19 from deep. Ateneo also allowed the Red Warriors to shoot a respectable percentage from the field at 41%.
What followed the gruelling first half was a testament as to why the Blue Eagles came into the match carrying a perfect record. The third quarter saw a resilient display for the Blue Eagles as they outscored the Red Warriors by a whopping 20 points coming from plays by Kouame, Ravena, and Adrian Wong. Building off their 69-50 lead entering the final salvo, Ateneo managed to hold down the fort and cruised to victory, 85-68.
When asked about the match, Head Coach Tab Baldwin talked about the no nonsense culture the team carries each game. “Whoever goes out there, I don’t prefer to put any special significance on different lineups or anything like that. I tend to think we’ve developed a culture where players understand the job that has to be done and do it, and that that group didn’t do that in the first half,” the tenured coach said.
Ateneo’s last game of the first round will be against the University of the Philippines on Sunday, September 29, 4:00 PM, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.
