Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Ateneo got back on track after putting down University of the Philippines, 83-66, in the second round of the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Blue Eagles lost 88-85 to Far Eastern University in their final game of the first round but their win against the Fighting Maroons pushed them back atop the standings with a 6-2 record.
UP, meanwhile slipped to sixth with a 3-5 slate.
From a slim 56-50 lead early in the fourth, Ateneo blew the game wide open in the latter minutes taking a 70-58 lead after Angelo Kouame’s dunk with 4:16 left in the game.
Thirdy Ravena then drove the stake down UP’s hear further when he soared for his own hammer for the Blue Eagles’ 75-60 lead with 1:56 to play.
“It’s important for us to come out strong especially in the second round and especially we’re coming off a loss against FEU,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. “We wanted to come into this game and focus on UP.”
“It was more than just the standings, we wanted to come out and play well. We wanted to focus our intensity and we didn’t want to go down.”
Ravena put up a season-high 21 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked two shots for the defending champions while Tyler Tio added 12 points and five assists.
Raffy Verano had10 points and seven rebounds for Ateneo while Jolo Mendoza also had 10 points in just nine minutes for the Blue Eagles.
Bright Akuhetie led UP with 20 points and eight rebounds while Paul Desiderio added 16 points and seven boards.
Injuries have already plagued Ateneo prior to the game against the Fighting Maroons with twins Mike and Matt Nieto nursing health problems but the Blue Eagles again suffered another mishap on the court late in the second quarter.
Shooting guard Adrian Wong lost a tooth after diving for a loose ball but Arespacochaga managed to make light of the situation and things will be fixed for the backup wingman.