UAAP: Ateneo moves within a win from elims sweep, drops FEU

Ateneo’s Raffy Verano. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Ateneo stacked yet another victory for its collection booking a 70-53 win at the expense of Far Eastern University Thursday and moving just a win shy of sweeping the eliminations and an outright finals ticket in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball eliminations

Just like in the past 12 games, the Blue Eagles were hardly threatened in scoring win No. 13 this season, allowing the Tamaraws to make the initial move — which was a 6-1 start — before delivering the decisive stop late in the first quarter that stayed.

Ateneo also stopped a streaking team for a second straight time as it snapped FEU’s three-game winning run. A few days ago it cut a four-game winning spell by Adamson.

The Blue Eagles’ defense proved too well established against the Tamaraws’ cluster-bombers who could only make five of 23 attempts from the arc. Still, RJ Abarrientos and LJ Gonzales still managed to score 12 and 10 points, respectively, for FEU.

Shooting better with a 42 percent clip against FEU’s 25 percent in the first half, Ateneo also displayed patience in offense, scoring off the turnovers it forced on the enemy. FEU’s Emman Ojuola was also whistled his third foul with still 7:20 in the second period.

The Tamaraws’ setback, their seventh in 13 matches, tied them with the National University Bulldogs, making the last spot in the next round largely dependent on their last matches. FEU will take on University of Santo Tomas, while NU will have La Salle as last elimination assignment on Sunday.

The Scores

ATENEO 70 — Verano 17, Tio 14, Belangel 8, Ildefonso 8, Mamuyac 7, Kouame 4, Koon 4, Mendoza 3, Padrigao 3, Chiu 2, Lazaro 0, Daves 0, Gomez 0, Andrade 0.

FEU 53 — Abarrientos 12, Gonzales 10, Torres 8, Alforque 5, Ojuola 5, Tempra 4, Sleat 3, Sajonia 3, Celzo 2, Coquia 1, Bienes 0, Sandagon 0, Li 0.

Quarters: 17-11, 33-23, 51-34, 70-53.