Ateneo remains unblemished after dismantling UP

Ateneo stayed spotless after a dominant 100-72 victory over University of the Philippines in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup Sunday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Blue Eagles held fort at the first seed of Group A with a 3-0 card while the Fighting Maroons are still winless in the tournament.

Ateneo used a strong fourth quarter and outscored the Fighting Maroons, 31-14, while also playing the stingiest of defenses.

UP turned the ball over 18 times, eight of which were off steals for Ateneo, and shot 25-of-55 from the field.

Part of UP’s struggles in the fourth was the Blue Eagles’ suffocating full-court press, and that kind of pressure defense was what Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin wanted from his players.

“Sometimes you won’t get the pressure from your opponents, UP played okay but they didn’t shoot the ball,” said Baldwin. “So if there’s no pressure from the opponent, the pressure’s going to come from the coaching staff.”

Matt Nieto scored two straight baskets to give Ateneo a 92-62 lead with midway through the fourth and Anton Asistio followed it up with a three-pointer for the Blue Eagles’ 98-63 buffer with 2:19 left in the game.

Asistio led Ateneo with 14 points while Raffy Verano added 11 points and six boards.

Bright Akhuetie put up 20 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the winless Fighting Maroons.