MANILA, Philippines—Emman Monfort had been showing crack form in practice. On Saturday, the diminutive Ateneo guard flashed his deadly shooting for everyone to see.
Monfort unloaded 15 of his 23 points from beyond the arc as the Blue Eagles rolled past the University of the Philippines Maroons, 75-59, to grab a share of second in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Emman has been shooting the lights out in practice,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “That’s one of the reasons why if you’re going to play a zone, he’s probably going to be on the floor.”
Monfort, the smallest player on court at 5-foot-6, shone in Ateneo’s early run to set a career-high in points on top of six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Ateneo joined idle Adamson at 6-2, just a game behind the 7-1 record of league-leading Far Eastern University.
Another guard stepped up for La Salle as rookie Almond Vosotros powered the Green Archers to a 59-56 triumph over the National U Bulldogs in the second game.
The 5-9 Vosotros knocked in 16 points, including two clutch free throws with 7.3 seconds left after the Bulldogs rallied within a point, 57-56.
“It’s a good experience for us to win close games,” said coach Dindo Pumaren, whose Archers kept fourth place with a 5-3 slate.
“It was difficult because they had (Cameroonian Emmanuel) Mbe and their wing guys can create, penetrate and dish out. So I told them that it’s important that we protect the shaded lane.”
Simon Atkins buried nine of his 13 points from three-point range and also had six feeds, while rookie center Papot Parades delivered six points, six rebounds and four blocks.
The Bulldogs fell to 3-5, while the Maroons skidded to their eight straight loss.
La Salle sealed the victory with Vosotros’ free throws off a duty foul from Joseph Terso, who fueled the Bulldogs’ comeback in the last four minutes.
The Bulldogs, who tripped the Archers 59-55, in the first round, had a chance to forge overtime, but Melvin Baloran missed the potential game-tying triple at the buzzer.
The Archers built an eight-point lead, 53-45, before Melvin Baloran and Terso capped NU’s comeback with back-to-back buckets that pushed the Bulldogs within a point, 57-56, with 13.3 seconds left.
Ateneo logged the highest number of assists in the last three years with 26, nine coming from Eric Salamat. The previous high was 27 by La Salle against Adamson in 2007.
Justin Chua added 16 markers and Ryan Buenafe posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to help the defending champion Eagles complete an elimination sweep of the Maroons.
In juniors’ action, the Blue Eaglets stretched their unbeaten run to nine games after a 101-60 rout of the University of the East Junior Warriors yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Kiefer Ravena delivered an all-around game of 21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and seven steals for the Eaglets.
Jonel Parungo led a balanced charge with 14 points as the Bullpups drubbed the Junior Maroons, 78-50, to keep second place at 7-2.
UP remained winless in nine outings, while UE fell to 1-8.
The varsity scores:
First Game
ATENEO 75—Monfort 23, Chua 16, Buenafe 12, Salamat 9, Dela Cruz 5, Golla 4, Long 3, Salva 2, Escueta 0, Erram 0, Tiongson 0, De Chavez 0, Austria 0.
UP 59—Reyes Ma. 15, Co 13, Silungan 11, Sison 10, Padilla 6, Saret 2, Manuel 2, Reyes Mi. 0, Maniego 0, Hipolito 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0.
Quarters: 17-16, 37-29, 57-43, 75-59
Second Game
LA SALLE 59—Vosotros 16, Atkins 13, Paredes 6, Elorde 4, Villanueva 3, Tolentino 3, Banal 3, Dela Paz 2, Webb 2, Mendoza 2, Marata 2, Andrada 2, Tampus 1, Ferdinand 0.
NU 56—Mbe 15, Terso 15, Baloran 10, Magat 6, Khobuntin 4, Ponferrada 3, Hermosisima 3, Javillonar 0, Eriobu 0, Tungcul 0, Singh 0, Malanday 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 23-22, 43-34, 59-56
Monfort unloaded 15 of his 23 points from beyond the arc as the Blue Eagles rolled past the University of the Philippines Maroons, 75-59, to grab a share of second in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.
“Emman has been shooting the lights out in practice,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “That’s one of the reasons why if you’re going to play a zone, he’s probably going to be on the floor.”
Monfort, the smallest player on court at 5-foot-6, shone in Ateneo’s early run to set a career-high in points on top of six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Ateneo joined idle Adamson at 6-2, just a game behind the 7-1 record of league-leading Far Eastern University.
Another guard stepped up for La Salle as rookie Almond Vosotros powered the Green Archers to a 59-56 triumph over the National U Bulldogs in the second game.
The 5-9 Vosotros knocked in 16 points, including two clutch free throws with 7.3 seconds left after the Bulldogs rallied within a point, 57-56.
“It’s a good experience for us to win close games,” said coach Dindo Pumaren, whose Archers kept fourth place with a 5-3 slate.
“It was difficult because they had (Cameroonian Emmanuel) Mbe and their wing guys can create, penetrate and dish out. So I told them that it’s important that we protect the shaded lane.”
Simon Atkins buried nine of his 13 points from three-point range and also had six feeds, while rookie center Papot Parades delivered six points, six rebounds and four blocks.
The Bulldogs fell to 3-5, while the Maroons skidded to their eight straight loss.
La Salle sealed the victory with Vosotros’ free throws off a duty foul from Joseph Terso, who fueled the Bulldogs’ comeback in the last four minutes.
The Bulldogs, who tripped the Archers 59-55, in the first round, had a chance to forge overtime, but Melvin Baloran missed the potential game-tying triple at the buzzer.
The Archers built an eight-point lead, 53-45, before Melvin Baloran and Terso capped NU’s comeback with back-to-back buckets that pushed the Bulldogs within a point, 57-56, with 13.3 seconds left.
Ateneo logged the highest number of assists in the last three years with 26, nine coming from Eric Salamat. The previous high was 27 by La Salle against Adamson in 2007.
Justin Chua added 16 markers and Ryan Buenafe posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds to help the defending champion Eagles complete an elimination sweep of the Maroons.
In juniors’ action, the Blue Eaglets stretched their unbeaten run to nine games after a 101-60 rout of the University of the East Junior Warriors yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Kiefer Ravena delivered an all-around game of 21 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and seven steals for the Eaglets.
Jonel Parungo led a balanced charge with 14 points as the Bullpups drubbed the Junior Maroons, 78-50, to keep second place at 7-2.
UP remained winless in nine outings, while UE fell to 1-8.
The varsity scores:
First Game
ATENEO 75—Monfort 23, Chua 16, Buenafe 12, Salamat 9, Dela Cruz 5, Golla 4, Long 3, Salva 2, Escueta 0, Erram 0, Tiongson 0, De Chavez 0, Austria 0.
UP 59—Reyes Ma. 15, Co 13, Silungan 11, Sison 10, Padilla 6, Saret 2, Manuel 2, Reyes Mi. 0, Maniego 0, Hipolito 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0.
Quarters: 17-16, 37-29, 57-43, 75-59
Second Game
LA SALLE 59—Vosotros 16, Atkins 13, Paredes 6, Elorde 4, Villanueva 3, Tolentino 3, Banal 3, Dela Paz 2, Webb 2, Mendoza 2, Marata 2, Andrada 2, Tampus 1, Ferdinand 0.
NU 56—Mbe 15, Terso 15, Baloran 10, Magat 6, Khobuntin 4, Ponferrada 3, Hermosisima 3, Javillonar 0, Eriobu 0, Tungcul 0, Singh 0, Malanday 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 23-22, 43-34, 59-56
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