GAMES WEDNESDAY (The Arena, San Juan)
2 p.m.—San Beda vs Arellano
4 p.m.—Letran vs FEU

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo struggled to solve the defensive game plan of Mapua then leaned on two seldom-used Blue Eagles to pull through Sunday.

Kirk Long and Mike Baldos combined for 10 points in a decisive fourth-quarter assault that lifted the Eagles to a 67-53 victory over the pesky Cardinals in the quarterfinals of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

“They played us box-and-one the whole game which is not something we normally see,” said coach Norman Black. “If other teams try to use the same defense we’ll have some experience already.”

Although defanged by early foul trouble, Rabeh Al-Hussaini still finished a rebound-shy of a double-double with 17 points and nine boards for UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila University.

The Blue Eagles’ bitter rivals kept in step as the De La Salle University Green Archers triumphed over University of the East, 75-72.

JV Casio buried nine of his 11 points in the final period, including three free throws in the last 26 seconds that sealed the Archers’ semifinal stint.

Right after the game, Dindo Pumaren bid goodbye to his Warriors after a five-year tenure. He steered the Recto-based squad to five straight Final Four appearances and one championship stint in the UAAP.

The Archers will go up next against the winner between three-time NCAA champion San Beda College and Arellano University. The Eagles will take on the winner of the game between Far Eastern University and Letran College on Wednesday.