THE ATENEO Blue Eagles received a star performance from reserve guard Emman Monfort, routing the UP Fighting Maroons 75-59 on August 14 at the Araneta Coliseum. Monfort paced the Blue Eagles with a career-high 23 points, breaking out of a recent shooting slump, hitting five from three point range.
Both teams got into their respective offenses early in the first quarter. With the Ateneo defense focused on denying easy shots in the paint, the Fighting Maroons stretched the defense by hitting a solid percentage from the elbow. The Blue Eagle offense on the other hand, created opportunities for themselves with patient ball movement, penetrating and dishing to open men, leading to wide open looks and layups. The primary beneficiary of this unselfish play was center Justin Chua who scored eight points on a perfect 4-4 shooting in the quarter.
Monfort quickly put the State U defense on edge, opening the second quarter with a 12-point flurry, hitting three triples and converting on a three point play following a steal, extending the Ateneo lead, 31-21 with nine minutes left in the half. The Blue Eagles kept the Maroons at arm’s length for the rest of the quarter, going into halftime with an 8-point lead.
The Maroons burst out of the gate after the break, forcing Ateneo’s ball handlers into turnovers, leading to easy baskets cutting the lead to three after a Padilla triple. But Eric Salamat’s own three pointer ignited a 20-9 run to end the third giving Ateneo a 57-43 lead into the last quarter.
The lead was never in jeopardy in the final canto as Ateneo extended their lead to as much as 22. A late run by UP saved the Maroons from the embarrassment of a second 20 point loss at the hands of the Eagles who completed the UAAP’s first sweep of a team in the season.
Quarter Scoring: 17-16, 37-29, 57-43, 75-59
Game Notes: Forward Nico Salva dislocated a finger late in the quarter and did not return. Monfort turned in an all around performance not only scoring 23, tying the Ateneo season high, but also chipping in with five assists, four steals and four rebounds.
