PCCL: Undermanned Ateneo overcomes San Beda, forces semis tiebreaker

Isaac Go. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—An undermanned Ateneo showed its own championship pedigree after holding off San Beda, 74-62, in Game 2 of its semifinals series in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League Thursday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The Blue Eagles, the winner of the Season 81 UAAP tournament, played without center Angelo Kouame and twin brothers Matt and Mike Nieto but went up against the Red Lions, the reigning champions of the NCAA, with a heart full of valor.

Isaac Go was magnificent for the Blue Eagles putting up 28 points on 7-of-12 from three-point area and 10 rebounds.

The 6-foot-7 big man also launched three of his three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Eagles and the Red Lions dispute the finals berth in Game 3 on Saturday at the same venue with the winner between these two teams going up University of Visayas in the knockout title game on Monday.

Ateneo owns three PCCL titles winning its last one in 2010, while San Beda won the tournament twice including the 2015 which it shared with Far Eastern University.