Ateneo splits tune-up games against Israeli clubs

FILE – Ateneo center Ange Kouame during a scrimmage against the Bay Area Dragons. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo failed to make it 2-0 after bowing to Israeli club Elitzur Eito Ashkelon, 81-73, at Zysman Arena on Monday (Manila time) in Israel.

After flourishing in the fourth quarter in their 73-69 win over Ramat HaSharon on Sunday, the Blue Eagles did the exact opposite in their second and final tune-up game in Israel.

Ateneo trailed big at the start of the fourth quarter, 61-49, before fighting back to pull within five, 72-67, after a free throw by Forthsky Padrigao with still 1:59 left.

The Blue Eagles, however, couldn’t complete their comeback, shooting themselves in the foot with costly turnovers.

Yuvail Hair and Alon Sapir scored 17 and 15 for Elitzur, a Division 2 squad, respectively.

Ange Kouame, who is slowly getting his groove back after a knee injury, tallied a near double-double of 16 markers and nine rebounds. Padrigao and Chris Koon contributed 13 each.

Dave Ildefonso, who had a game-high 27 points against Ramat HaSharon, was locked down to only eight points.

The Blue Eagles will fly back home on Wednesday and will ramp up their buildup for the upcoming UAAP Season 85 with less than a month left before the opening set on October 1.