THE ATENEO Blue Eagles concluded their University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 campaign as silver medalists, bowing to archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers in a thrilling Finals game, 18-21.
Prior to their rivalry clash, the Loyola Heights-based unit took down the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 21-13, in their Final Four bout. These contests occurred earlier today, May 3, at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in the City of Parañaque.
This season marked an impressive turnaround for the Blue Eagles, rising from a last-place finish in Season 87, to a Finals berth in Season 88.
Final Four vs. AdU
Wrestling for a spot at the Finals, the second-seeded Blue Eagles opened their postseason campaign against the third-seeded AdU Soaring Falcons.
Ateneo opened the contest sluggish on the defensive end, conceding three quick points to Adamson, 0-3. Determined to build momentum for his team, Shawn Tuano knocked down a left-wing bomb to put the Blue Eagles on the board, 2-3.
Despite the offensive efforts of Drew Bongo and Alden Cainglet, the Blue Eagles continued to give up open looks to the Soaring Falcons, 6-7. Sensing danger, Tuano quickly converted a two to knot the game at 9-all. Ateneo then continued with their offensive barrage courtesy of another Tuano two and a Bongo putback layup, 13-10.
The California-native duo continued to pile on the points for Ateneo, with Tuano sinking consecutive long-rangers to go with an and-one conversion by Bongo, 17-12. With a seat at the Finals in their grasp, the Katipunan-based squad upped their defensive intensity, only allowing one more AdU bucket for the rest of the contest.
Another Bongo-Tuano connection would spell the end for the Soaring Falcons, as Tuano dished a clean pass to Bongo for the dagger deuce, 21-13. This result sent Ateneo to the Finals for a rivalry match with the DLSU Green Archers, only one season removed from placing last in the tournament.
Finals vs. DLSU
Entering their first finals since Season 81 and their first-ever in 3×3’s history as a general championship sport, the Blue Eagles found themselves in a prime opportunity to snatch the crown from their three-time defending champion archrivals La Salle.
Tuano created the initial separation for Ateneo, scoring the squad’s first three points on his own, 3-2. Bongo and Cainglet carried the same power to keep the Blue and White ahead throughout the early game, 5-3.
However, DLSU’s Luis Pablo began to feast from the inside, tearing away at the Blue Eagle lead, 5-5, until Cainglet took matters into his own hands with a deuce to place them back in the driver’s seat, 7-5.
Despite the advantage, Ateneo committed a costly error that haunted them for the rest of the game. Their ensuing foul trouble started with a flagrant foul that led to two free throws for Pablo, eventually costing them the lead, 7-9.
The Blue and White then began to play catch up, with Pablo continuing to dominate in the paint. Not willing to back down, Thirdy Ebdane managed to bring Ateneo back into the game with a huge two-pointer, 12-12.
Although Ateneo continued in its fightback, the Katipunan-based squad entered the penalty with three minutes remaining. After Tuano’s tough bucket from inside, 13-12, the Blue Eagles failed to recapture the lead from thereon. Another three-point opportunity, capitalized on by Green Archer JC Macalalag, took the advantage away from Ateneo, 13-14.
Foul trouble remained a constant thorn in the Blue Eagles’ comeback attempt, and even with Tuano hitting clutch baskets to keep Ateneo within striking distance, 15-16, La Salle kept striking back from the paint and at the line.
Pablo’s inside presence and ability to draw fouls stifled Ateneo’s aggression in crunch time, as the Blue Eagles allowed the DLSU big man three straight points, 15-19. Even with Tuano’s quick deuce, 17-19, match point was already fast approaching for La Salle. With thirty seconds remaining, Pablo sank in two more baskets as Ateneo concluded the season with a commendable silver performance, 18-21.
“We aimed high and we got silver. So me and the guys, we’re happy that we can bring a trophy home that we can call ours,” shared Tuano following his team’s stellar Season 88 run.
Since Season 84, the first year of 3×3 basketball’s induction as a regular sport, the Blue Eagles had previously failed to place higher than sixth. Now, the Atenean quintet have officially etched their names in Blue Eagle history with a remarkable turnaround and the Men’s Basketball Team’s first podium finish in any event since 2022–an accomplishment best described by Tuano himself.
“We worked hard for this all week long, and we’re happy that when we go to the Office [of College Athletics] and we see our trophy, [we can say] we did that,” he concluded.
Box scores:
Final Four
Ateneo (21): Tuano – 11, Bongo – 6, Ebdane – 2, Cainglet – 2
AdU (13): Pacquiao – 6, Edding – 4, Barcelona – 2, Fransman – 1
Finals
Ateneo (18): Tuano – 8, Bongo – 4, Ebdane – 3, Cainglet – 3
DLSU (21): Pablo – 8, Abadam – 5, Macalalag – 3, Gollena – 0
