Photo By Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
They beat the defending champions while their big man wound up bagging the Most Valuable Player award. In just one game, Ateneo sent a chilling message to its foes in the coming UAAP season.
Knocking the crown off the Eagles’ heads will be a tough challenge.
Ateneo made dismantling NCAA champion San Beda look so easy, coasting to a 76-62 victory to claim the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup crown on Saturday night at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
“We talked about our defense and we had to take something from what worked for us and learn from the past games and the players responded,” Ateneo assistant head coach Sandy Arespacochaga said.
Led by tournament MVP Angelo Kouame, the Eagles were ruthlessly locked in and snared the Lions early in the game to earn their first preseason title since 2011—when they also beat the Lions in the Final.
Kouame finished with 15 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.
“We’re very happy for him individually and we try to see him continue to improve,” Arespacochaga said of Kouame. “It’s a combination: He’s a very good learner, he’s a bit raw in terms of basketball experience but he’s a sponge and his teammates have done a great job helping him.”
Ateneo was already in celebratory mood after fashioning a 65-47 cushion in the fourth quarter after Kouame beat the shotclock with a mid-range jumper.
But back-to-back treys from Franz Abuda and Jeramer Cabanag pumped some life back to the Lions, who trimmed the deficit to 68-56.
San Beda rookie Evan Nelle pawed in a layup at the two-minute mark of the final period to further trim the deficit to 70-59, but that would be the closest they could get as the Eagles proved steady at the clutch, burying a triple and making three charities to cement the outcome.
Ateneo used the second quarter to peel away from San Beda.
With a slim seven-point lead midway through that period, the Blue Eagles unloaded an 18-6 blitz, capped by a Kouame layup to erect an 18-point lead at the break.
Down 19 in the third frame, the Red Lions went on a quick 10-3 run before two charities by Blue Eagle William Navarro put the Ateneo lead back at 14 going into the final period.
San Beda was weighed down by top gun Robert Bolick being held scoreless in just 10 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, Ateneo standouts Thirdy Ravena and Matt Nieto joined Kouame in the Mythical Five along with La Salle’s Justine Baltazar and San Beda’s Javee Mocon.