THE ATENEO Blue Eagles’ search for a preseason victory continues after falling to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 46-65, earlier today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in the City of San Juan. This defeat puts the Katipunan-based squad at a 0-4 win-loss record in their Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup campaign.
Main contributors for the Blue and White in today’s duel were Team Co-Captain Chris Koon and Shawn Tuano, who contributed 11 points apiece. Meanwhile, Francis Pre’s 14 markers steered FEU’s winning effort, while Mohamed Konateh notched a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
The Blue Eagles began the game at a slow pace, missing a number of jump shots and surrendering multiple easy layups to the Tamaraws to eventually find themselves down 0-6. Ending his team’s dry spell was Koon, who knocked down two straight threes to tie the game. Checking in at the seven-minute mark for his Filoil debut was touted recruit Jared Bahay, who struggled to find a groove, missing his seven first-half field goal attempts.
As the opening quarter winded down, Ateneo’s interior defensive woes persisted as they failed to contain drives from FEU’s Johnrey Pasaol who handed the momentum back to the adversaries, 8-14. In response, an Andrew Bongo driving lay-in closed the poor quarter out on an otherwise good note for the Blue and White, 10-16.
Looking to kickstart a positive swing at the start of the second frame, Mason Amos and Shawn Tuano spearheaded a 7-3 run to cut their deficit to two only a minute into the frame, 17-19. After this offensive burst, Ateneo once again went cold, going scoreless for the next six minutes due to FEU’s hounding defense. The Katipunan-based squad’s size deficiencies once again allowed the Tamaraws to feast in the paint with a 12-3 run, handing the Blue Eagles a 20-31 disadvantage at the half.
The third canto commenced with a 7-3 run by the Tamaraws that extended their lead to 15, 23-38. However, Ateneo countered with a 6-0 run courtesy of a three-pointer by Amos and a close-range shot by rookie Kristian Porter, 29-38. As the quarter reached its final three and a half minutes, FEU responded with two straight layups by Royce Alforque and Jedrick Daa to build on their lead, 42-29. Despite efforts to inch closer, Ateneo’s glaring lack of inside presence allowed the Tamaraws to extend their lead with multiple inside shots, 49-33. Koon would however have the final say for the Blue Eagles, nailing a three-pointer to end the penultimate salvo, 36-49.
Issues continued to plague Ateneo in the final quarter, allowing the Sampaloc-based squad to widen their advantage courtesy of baskets from Konateh and Pre, 56-37. Four minutes into the frame, Konateh continued to cause problems for Ateneo in the paint on both ends, sealing a block and converting a layup to further extend FEU’s lead to 58-37. With three minutes remaining in the game, efforts from the likes of Koon and Tuano proved futile in overcoming FEU’s massive lead as the Tamaraws easily managed to hold on for the victory, 65-46.
Still on the hunt for their first win in a week, the Blue Eagles will face the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons tomorrow, June 1, at 5:00 PM in the same venue.
Box scores:
Ateneo (46): Koon – 11, Tuano – 11, Amos – 9, Porter – 4, Bongo – 3, Nieto – 3, Espinosa – 2, Ong – 2, Bahay – 1
FEU (65): Pre – 14, Konateh, 11, Daa – 10, Pasaol – 8, Bautista – 8, Felipe – 5, Montemayor – 3, Bagunu – 2, Ona – 2, Alforque – 2
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-FEU: 10-16, 20-31, 36-49, 46-65
Current Standings (W–L):
- UP Fighting Maroons (4–0)
- DLSU Green Archers (3–1)
- FEU Tamaraws (3–1)
- UST Growling Tigers (2–2)
- UE Red Warriors (2–3)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (1–3)
- NU Bulldogs (1–3)
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (0–4)
