Eagles claim second UAAP semifinal bonus
MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo collared the second last UAAP Final Four bonus but not after surviving University of Santo Tomas’ furious rally from 17 points down in the last four minutes Sunday.
The defending champion Blue Eagles bucked the sizzling shooting of Clark Bautista before putting away the out-of-it all Tigers, 81-77, to secure the twice-to-beat semifinal advantage in the men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
“They started bombing us with three-pointers,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “It’s very difficult to defend a team that shoots like that. But we won, that’s the most important thing”
Eric Salamat fired 15 of his 18 points in the first half to tow the Eagles to what looked like a formidable 40-23 halftime gap.
But just when the defending champions seemed headed for an easy win, Bautista knocked in 13 points in the last four minutes, the last on a triple that trimmed the deficit to just three, 80-77, with 36.6 seconds left.
The Tigers, though, failed to convert in their final two attempts and a Kirk Long free throw cushioned the Eagles’ lead with 10.6 ticks remaining.
“We broke down defensively, particularly our perimeter defense,” said Black after his Eagles nearly blew a 73-56 advantage in the closing minutes.
The Blue Eagles’ 10th victory in 13 games also clipped the hopes of La Salle and Adamson, the two other semifinalists aiming to forge a playoff for a shot at the Final Four incentive.
Far Eastern University automatically claimed the first semifinal advantage after the Green Archers and the Falcons absorbed upset losses against eliminated opponents last Saturday.
But the Tamaraws remained as fierce in routing the winless University of the Philippines, 70-48, in the first game.
Although it seemed like a no-bearing match for the Tamaraws, coach Glenn Capacio said his team wants to keep hold of the top spot.
“Right now, our biggest opponent is ourselves,” said Capacio. “Out of 10, we’re still at seven. There are still some things we can improve on.”
The Tamaraws zoomed to a 24-8 start and never turned back on their way to their 11th victory in 13 games.
RR Garcia, this season’s MVP front runner, topscored anew with 12 points to remain as the only player in the league to score in double figures each game.
The Tigers, who missed out on the Final Four for the second time in three years, dropped to seventh at 4-9 on the day UST coach Pido Jarencio turned 46.
Sophomore swingman Chris de Chavez added 12 points and Justin Chua had 11 markers and nine boards for the Eagles, who went up by as many as 19 points, 68-49, in the fourth period.
Emman Monfort only had six points, but nailed a clutch triple that ended the Eagles’ scoring drought in the closing minutes, 79-72, with 1:25 left.
Jeric Teng shot 10 of his 23 points in the Tigers’ fourth-quarter assault and Bautista drilled 12 of his 16 markers from three-point range.
FEU drew 36 markers from its bench players compared to UP’s’ four, the lowest bench points since National U only had two in 2003.
“It’s not just the starters who need to contribute, but also our bench,” said Garcia. “It’s good that our bench stepped up in this game.”
Capacio also credited his second-stringers, noting that some of his key players have been distracted with their own bids for the top individual awards.
“It’s hard to play a no-bearing game and it’s also hard when you have four players in the running [for the awards],” said Capacio. “Some were tight and forcing their shots. I had to remind them to stay within the system.”
The Maroons, who skidded to their 13th straight loss, are close to duplicating their winless run in the 2007 season.
In junior action, the Tiger Cubs claimed the lone twice-to-beat bonus in the stepladder semifinals after downing the National U Bullpups, 65-58, in yesterday’s playoff for the No. 2 spot at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan. The La Salle Zobel Junior Archers also claimed the last semifinal berth following a 66-60 triumph over the Baby Tamaraws in the other knockout match. The defending champion Blue Eaglets swept the eliminations to grab an outright championship berth.
The Junior Archers will go up against the No. 3 Bullpups at the start of the stepladder semifinals at 4 p.m. tomorrow. The winner will advance against the Cubs, who only need to win once to clinch the last title slot. The scores:
First Game
FEU 70—Garcia 12, Cervantes 9, Mendoza 8, Noundou 8, Romeo 7, Bringas 6, Ramos 6, Knuttel 6, Cawaling 5, Guerrero 2, Exciminiano 1, Cruz 0, Sanga 0.
UP 48—Padilla 17, Sison 14, Reyes Ma. 9, Pascual 4, Juruena 4, Silungan 0, Saret 0, Manuel 0, Evangelista 0, Reyes 0 , Hipolito 0, Gingerich 0.
Quarters: 7-8, 28-18, 47-36, 70-48
Second Game
ATENEO 81—Salamat 18, De Chavez 12, Chua 11, Long 10, Dela Cruz 6, Monfort 6, Buenafe 6, Golla 5, Salva 3, Tiongson 2, Austria 2, Escueta 0.
UST 78—Teng 23, Bautista 16, Daquioag 10, Afuang 10, Mariano 8, Fortuna 6, Pe 4, Wong 0, Tinte 0, Marata 0, Mamaril 0, Lo 0, Marquez 0, Camus 0, Aytona 0.
Quarters: 17-13, 40-23, 60-45, 81-77
In junior action, the Tiger Cubs claimed the lone twice-to-beat bonus in the stepladder semifinals after downing the National U Bullpups, 65-58, in yesterday’s playoff for the No. 2 spot at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan. The La Salle Zobel Junior Archers also claimed the last semifinal berth following a 66-60 triumph over the Baby Tamaraws in the other knockout match. The defending champion Blue Eaglets swept the eliminations to grab an outright championship berth.
The Junior Archers will go up against the No. 3 Bullpups at the start of the stepladder semifinals at 4 p.m. tomorrow. The winner will advance against the Cubs, who only need to win once to clinch the last title slot. The scores:
First Game
FEU 70—Garcia 12, Cervantes 9, Mendoza 8, Noundou 8, Romeo 7, Bringas 6, Ramos 6, Knuttel 6, Cawaling 5, Guerrero 2, Exciminiano 1, Cruz 0, Sanga 0.
UP 48—Padilla 17, Sison 14, Reyes Ma. 9, Pascual 4, Juruena 4, Silungan 0, Saret 0, Manuel 0, Evangelista 0, Reyes 0 , Hipolito 0, Gingerich 0.
Quarters: 7-8, 28-18, 47-36, 70-48
Second Game
ATENEO 81—Salamat 18, De Chavez 12, Chua 11, Long 10, Dela Cruz 6, Monfort 6, Buenafe 6, Golla 5, Salva 3, Tiongson 2, Austria 2, Escueta 0.
UST 78—Teng 23, Bautista 16, Daquioag 10, Afuang 10, Mariano 8, Fortuna 6, Pe 4, Wong 0, Tinte 0, Marata 0, Mamaril 0, Lo 0, Marquez 0, Camus 0, Aytona 0.
Quarters: 17-13, 40-23, 60-45, 81-77
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