Ateneo’s Gian Mamuyac. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Gian Mamuyac waxed hot in the third period to engineer an Ateneo breakaway that fueled a 94-72 victory against a surprisingly game University of the East on Saturday in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.
With the Blue Eagles down a field goal against a three-point hunting Red Warriors, Mamuyac buried two triples and scored 10 points in a 14-0 run that pushed Ateneo ahead, 65-53, late in the third quarter—and on its way to a sixth straight win, one shy of a first-round sweep.
The Red Warriors dropped a sixth straight match, but fought hard enough in this one to press their noses on mthe Eagles’ backs for two-and-a-half quarters.
That was when Mamuyac checked in and shushed the Warriors with a steely scoring display.
The Ateneo skipper also nailed a triple as time expired to shepherd the Blue Eagles into the break on a deadlock at 39, averting what Ateneo hasn’t faced so far this season: A halftime deficit.
The Red Warriors stuck it to the Blue Eagles from the get-go, matching their highly-fancied foes point-for-point behind Kris Pagsanjan and his trigger-happy teammates. Both squads were also tied (15-all) after the first quarter, with the Eagles cuffed by their seven turnovers—against a meager four field goals—there.
UE survived on a feast of triples early but just could not switch a gear higher when the Blue Eagles’ engine started humming.
Mamuyac finished with a career-high 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting and added nine rebounds to lead Ateneo along with Ange Kouame, who also had 21 points and threw in 13 rebounds and four blocks.
Kyle Paranada and Kris Pagsanjan finished with 15 points each for UE, which made 13 of its 26 attempts from beyond the arc.