Ateneo chalks up second straight win, downs UP

UP Maroons vs Ateneo Blue Eagles. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Ateneo took possession of solo second in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament taking out University of the Philippines, 79-64, Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Blue Eagles picked up their second straight win for a 4-2 slate, trailing league-leading La Salle.

The Fighting Maroons 1-5, their second straight loss after the first win, to stay at second to the last in the standings.

Ateneo, after giving up 25 points in the third quarter, picked up the intensity in the final period and limited the Fighting Maroons to 10 points while scoring 21 points to finish off UP.

“As a team we had a bit of a letdown in the third and the players came out with more defensive intensity in the fourth,” said Blue Eagles head coach Sandy Arespacochaga. “The defensive intensity picked up and the players did their assignments.”

Thirdy Ravena sparked Ateneo with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and one glorious chase down block on Javier Gomez De Liaño midway through the fourth quarter.

Chibueze Ikeh also did his damage underneath coming away with 14 points and seven boards, six of which came off the offensive glass.

Paul Desiderio finished with a game-high 25 points to go along six rebounds for UP while Jett Manuel added 17 points and eight rebounds.