Eagles, Archers overwhelm foes

MANILA-Philippines—FIERCE RIVALS Ateneo and La Salle posted lopsided victories yesterday in games that seemed like mere warmups for their blockbuster clash this Sunday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.    Ryan Buenafe led a balanced charge with 14 points as the Blue Eagles dumped the National U Bulldogs, 69-49, to grab a share of second place at the Araneta Coliseum.   The Blue Eagles joined idle Adamson at 7-2, just a game behind Far Eastern University’s league-leading 8-1 card.   La Salle followed its game plan masterfully from the get-go and crushed winless University of the Philippines, 84-63, in the first game.   The Green Archers coasted to their sixth triumph in nine games despite the absence of top scorer Joseph Marata, who had the flu.   Maui Villanueva paced La Salle with 14 points, built on a 7-of-9 shooting clip, aside from collecting eight rebounds, three assists and a couple of steals.   Coach Norman Black credited the defense of his Eagles, who held the Bulldogs to just 13 points or fewer for every quarter.   “Definitely we played much better defense,” said Black after the back-to-back champions picked up their fifth straight victory.   “The first time we played them (Bulldogs), we couldn’t stand in front of them. They kept beating us off the dribble. We had to resort to a zone defense to beat them.”   La Salle rookie Jarelan Tampus also provided quality minutes with 11 points and seven boards to fill in for Marata, who led the Archers with an average of 9.3 points in the first round.   “Our game plan was to start strong and outhustle UP,” said coach Dindo Pumaren after his Archers strengthened their hold of fourth spot.   Ateneo and La Salle collide for the second time this season at 4 p.m. on Sunday, also at the Big Dome, with the Eagles hoping to avenge their 63-66 first-round upset loss to the Archers.   Gabriel Banal had 11 points and freshman Almond Vosotros chipped in 10 for the Archers, who led by as many as 24, 73-49, early in the fourth quarter.   The Maroons, who both lost to injury aces Woody Co (sprained right ankle) and Mark Lopez (anterior cruciate ligament) in the second half, bowed out of Final Four contention with nine losses.   State U also played without Alvin Padilla, who served a one-game ban along with NU’s Glenn Khobuntin.   In women’s action, the Far Eastern U Lady Tamaraws downed the Lady Bulldogs, 62-51, to keep second spot at 8-1 behind unbeaten Adamson.   University of Santo Tomas stayed  fourth with a 5-4 slate following an 89-65 rout of the University of the East.