THE ATENEO Blue Eagles settled for a 1-1 win-loss record in the 2025 PASSIkat: Ultimate Collegiate Basketball Showdown, after conceding to the San Beda University (SBU) Red Lions, 61-73. The game was held earlier today at the City of Passi Arena in Iloilo.
The Katipunan-based squad got off to a blazing start, with Dom Escobar and Kymani Ladi nailing consecutive jumpers to give Ateneo an early lead, 4-0. Clamping down on defense, Ladi rejected back-to-back Red Lion drives just two minutes into the match-up. This suffocating sequence enabled an easy triple from Andrew Bongo, forcing San Beda to burn an early timeout, 7-0.
The Red Lions roared back, with Yukien Andrada powering through the lane and RC Calimag burying back-to-back jumpers from beyond the arc, 8-10. Following a split at the charity stripe from Bongo, the Mendiola-based squad then hit a 15-foot jumper, bringing the game to a standstill, 11-11. Determined to close the first quarter in the driver’s seat, the Blue Eagles rallied back through Josh Lazaro’s mid-range bucket jumper and Shawn Tuano’s drive, 17-11.
The Blue Eagles opened the second quarter on their heels, struggling to contain San Beda’s barrage as Calimag and Bryan Sajonia knocked down triples to give the Red Lions their first lead, 19-20. The Blue Eagles’ troubles persisted, as careless turnovers and missed open shots stalled their momentum. However, Escobar stopped the bleeding with a strong and-one finish, followed by a fastbreak layup from Kyle Gamber that reclaimed the lead for Ateneo, 26-25.
Ladi looked to further ignite Ateneo’s offense with a fadeaway jumper, but was quickly answered by Calimag and Zed Ettule’s back-to-back triples, forcing the Blue Eagles to call a timeout, 28-31. Despite the quick pause in play, the Tab Baldwin-coached unit still struggled to contain the Red Lions, as Calimag claimed dominance from downtown, 28-36.
However, an unsportsmanlike foul on Ladi granted the Blue Eagles an opportunity to trim the deficit, leading to a 5-0 run highlighted by Jaden Lazo drilling a three and a turnaround jumper from Ladi, 36-38.
Entering the second half, the Blue Eagles showed renewed vigor in attacking the paint, as consecutive baskets by Tuano and Bongo restored the Ateneo lead, 40-38. Quick to counter, however, the Red Lions ramped up their intensity on the defensive end, forcing the Blue and White out of their trademark offensive system. As Calimag drained his sixth three of the match, Ateneo found themselves down double-digits for the first time in the showdown, 40-50.
Multiple trips to the free throw line kept Ateneo within reach of the Mendiola-based unit, but the Katipunan-based squad continued to trail by double-digits, 43-57, after another Andrada outside basket. A last-second midrange bucket from Lazaro finally halted the Blue Eagle cold streak, with the third quarter coming to a close and the Blue Eagles behind, 45-57.
Ateneo continued to struggle in the fourth, as a 10-1 run led by Andrada and Sajonia extended the San Beda advantage to 21, 46-67. Refusing to back down, Ateneo responded with an 11-to-nothing run of their own, fueled by recruits Ladi and Lazo, to cut the lead down to 10 with four minutes remaining, 57-67.
Determined to dispel any chances of a comeback, Red Lion Sajonia drained a momentum-shifting jumper from deep to silence the crowd, effectively putting the Red Lions ahead at 57-70. As the final buzzer sounded, the Blue Eagles fell, 61-73, finishing their brief showcase against the Red Lions with one win apiece.
With Season 88 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines fast-approaching, the Blue and White will look to build upon their promising offseason performance.
Quarter scores:
Ateneo-San Beda: 17-11, 36-38, 45-57, 61-73
