UAAP: Ateneo closes in on sweep, deals NU 37-point beatdown

Thirdy Ravena soars high for a jam. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

ANTIPOLO – Sharp and precise with its execution, Ateneo rolled to an 88-51 win over National U Saturday and moved to the brink of an elimination round sweep in UAAP Season 82 at Ynares Center.

The Blue Eagles broke out of the gates hard and never looked back as they delivered their most lopsided win of the season just four days before facing University of the Philippines in the last game of the elimination round.

A win by Ateneo against UP on Wednesday at MOA Arena will complete a 14-game sweep and a fourth straight finals appearance for the Eagles under coach Tab Baldwin.

Ange Kouame finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds in just 23 minutes on the floor, while Thirdy Ravena tallied 15 points and four rebounds for Ateneo, which had 14 players scoring at least three points.

It was another heavy defeat by the Bulldogs, whose once promising season has turned out to be a nightmare of sorts after they suffered a fourth straight loss for a 2-11 record.

The Bulldogs’ struggles were characterized by main man Dave Ildefonso, who was held to just two points after averaging 16.2 points in the first 12 games of the campaign.

The 11 losses are already the most since a decade ago when the Bulldogs ended their season with a 3-11 slate. NU’s remaining game will be against University of the East on Wednesday.

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