THE ATENEO 3×3 Basketball Teams went .500 in their two contests on day two of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) 3×3 Basketball tournament. The Men’s squad dropped their match against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 15-21, while the Women’s side overcame the Lady Falcons, 21-18. The matches took place earlier today at Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City.
Men’s match vs AdU
Kicking off today’s festivities for the Blue and White was the Men’s squad, which scored an impressive win over the University of Santo Tomas in their most recent assignment. The quartet of Andre Tan, Joachim De Guzman, Danniel Tupas, and Adam Dela Cruz took on AdU’s Cedrick Manzano, Kenji Cañete, John Anabo, and Ray Allen Torres.
The Blue Eagles were quickly overwhelmed by big man Manzano’s post play at the onset of the contest, quickly surrendering three layups to the Falcon bruiser to fall behind, 2-4. Providing an offensive boost for Ateneo, Dela Cruz drained a free throw and two long-distance shots to cut his squad’s deficit to one, 7-8.
However, the Katipunan-based squad’s defensive troubles persisted at the game’s midpoint, as Adamson’s Torres torched Ateneo with consecutive straight-line drives, 7-11. Despite solid scoring efforts by Tupas and Tan, the Blue Eagles eventually surrendered the contest after a flurry of Manzano buckets and a Torres freebie, 15-21.
Women’s match vs AdU
Eyeing on revving up some momentum after a winless season opener, Ateneo’s lineup of Kacey Dela Rosa, Kate Cancio, Kai Oani, and Seng Calago sought a blockbuster performance in their meeting with the Lady Falcons.
While the opening minutes of the match saw profound aggression and physicality from both units, the Blue Eagles’ early offensive struggles placed them in a 0-3 hole. Dela Rosa gave the immediate counter by dominating the interior to notch Ateneo’s first two points. However, the Lady Falcons shut down the veteran’s rebuttal and capitalized on missed opportunities by the Blue and White to extend the lead, 2-9.
Struggles continued for the Blue Eagles on the other end as Adamson’s harmonized offense needled through Ateneo’s defensive gaps, swelling the deficit to 4-11.
Sparking the fight from his team, Calago proceeded to ignite Ateneo’s uprising with four-straight points brewed by his diverse scoring from point-blank and rainbow country, 8-11.
Following a basket by Angela Alaba that pushed AdU’s lead to 12-8, the Blue and White unleashed a long-awaited offensive blitz. Efforts from the waxing-hot Calago and a long-distance make by Oani piloted Ateneo’s 5-0 run, helping them take their first lead of the game, 13-12.
With the half-court duel in high tension, Adamson’s Alaba and Cheska Apag settled the waters for the San Marcelino-based faction with a crucial shot to take the lead anew, 15-13. However, the Blue Eagles showed vigor, as they forced a shot-clock violation to kill their foes’ rhythm.
Banking on adrenaline, Dela Rosa once again turned the tides for Ateneo, snatching a 16-15 lead courtesy of a gritty post-up and an outside basket.
Adamson’s Apag looked to control the game’s clutch time standoff after converting three consecutive points for the Lady Falcons, 18-16. However, it was Calago’s remarkable marksmanship that helped Ateneo ultimately fend off the San Marcelino-based unit, as his back-to-back downtown daggers capped his hyper-efficient 7-for-8 shooting game and a 21-18 Blue Eagle victory.
In the Blue Eagles’ come-from-behind win, Calago put up a monstrous statline of 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Looking to collect more wins, the Blue Eagles are scheduled for dual assignments against the National University (NU) Bulldogs and University of the East (UE) Red Warriors on Thursday, May 1, at the same venue.
The Men’s Team will face NU and UE at 2:00 PM and 4:20 PM, respectively. Meanwhile, the Women’s Team will clash with the same teams at 3:20 PM and 5:40 PM, respectively.
Box scores:
Men’s Match versus AdU
Ateneo (15): Dela Cruz – 6, Tupas – 4, De Guzman – 3, Tan – 2
AdU (21): Torres – 9, Manzano – 9, Anabo – 3
Women’s Match versus AdU
Ateneo (21): Calago – 12, Dela Rosa – 7, Oani – 2, Cancio – 0
AdU (18): Meniano – 6, Apag – 5, Etang – 4, Alaba – 3
Current Men’s Standings (W-L) – Points:
- AdU Soaring Falcons (3-0) – 64 points
- NU Bulldogs (3-0) – 63 points
- FEU Tamaraws (2-1) – 58 points
- UE Red Warriors (1-2) – 57 points
- DLSU Green Archers (1-2) – 53 points
- Ateneo Blue Eagles (1-2) – 52 points
- UST Growling Tigresses (1-2) – 49 points
- UP Fighting Maroons (0-3) – 49 points
Current Women’s Standings (W-L) – Points:
- UST Growling Tigresses (3-0) – 62 points
- UP Fighting Maroons (3-0) – 54 points
- NU Lady Bulldogs (2-1) – 58 points
- FEU Lady Tamaraws (2-1) – 57 points
- DLSU Lady Archers (1-3) – 45 points
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (1-2) – 44 points
- AdU Lady Falcons (0-3) – 48 points
- UE Lady Warriors (0-3) – 35 points
