Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Shawn Tuano flanked by his teammates during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Ateneo finally notched a first win in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament with a 60-51 victory against Adamson on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Shawn Tuano’s crucial free throws down the stretch gave the Blue Eagles the breathing room they needed to comfortably take home the win
“We’re obviously very happy. The guys fought really hard. I said early on that we will be a team that plays in patches. The fourth quarter was a really bad patch but we survived it. We took care of our third quarter woes, at least for this game,” coach Tab Baldwin said.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball
Tuano led the scoring for Ateneo with 11 points in addition to four rebounds and Kristian Porter’s efforts finally resulted in a win as he finished with eight points and 10 rebounds for the Eagles to improve to a 1-3 record.
Chris Koon finished with eight points and four rebounds, pulling off a good comeback after missing two games due to an injury in Ateneo’s opening game versus University of the Philippines.
Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Kristian Porter during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Sophomore Kyle Gamber nailed a trey in the third quarter to give Ateneo its biggest lead at 41-25.
Adamson manufactured a 13-2 run in the fourth frame to bring the heat to the Blue Eagles, narrowing the deficit to just three, 54-51 with a minute and four seconds left courtesy of Ced Manzano’s charity shots.
READ: UAAP: Baldwin says ‘be patient with process’ amid Ateneo 0-3 start
Ian Espinosa scored his only points from the line and after attempts of the Falcons to somehow take the game, Tuano was sent to the line and sank four of his five free throws to seal the result.
Manzano was the lone bright spot for the Soaring Falcons as he ended up with 14 points and seven rebounds.
The win could help Ateneo extend its winning ways as it battles winless Far Eastern University on Sept. 29 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.