Ateneo’s Dave Ildefonso during a scrimmage against the Bay Area Dragons. – Ildefonso led Ateneo with 27 points against Israeli club Ramat HaSharon. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo scraped past Ramat HaSharon, 73-69, winning the first of two tune-up games against Israeli clubs at Oranim Sports Hall in Israel early Sunday (Manila time).
Dave Ildefonso carried much of the offensive load but it was BJ Andrade, who hit the biggest shot of the game that put the Blue Eagles ahead for good, 72-69, with 36.8 seconds remaining.
Andrade, the Ateneo skipper, scored all of his six points in the fourth quarter.
Ildefonso led with 27 points, 15 of which came in the first half where the Blue Eagles took a 42-35 spread.
He sank 5 3-pointers, including one that broke a 62-deadlock down the stretch.
Forthsky Padrigao was the only other Blue Eagle who reached double-figures in scoring with 10 points.
Ange Koume had a quiet outing offensively with measly six points but had a key defensive stop in the final seconds that helped Ateneo hold on to victory.
Ateneo, which is preparing for the upcoming UAAP Season 85, takes on Elitzur Eito Ashkelon on Monday night to wrap up its two-game swing.