Ateneo, UST score contrasting wins in Unigames opener

ATENEO’s chief gunner Kiefer Ravena produces an electrifying dunk in yesterday’s game against USJ-R. Contributed photo / S KIERON TAN

MANILA, Philippines—Five-time UAAP champion Ateneo dodged a bullet as it escaped University of San Jose-Recoletos, 56-54, Monday in the 17th Sandugo University Games at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod.

University of Santo Tomas, the team the Blue Eagles beat for the UAAP title recently, cruised past John B. Lacson Maritime University at the West Negros University Gym.

Ateneo, led by Kiefer Ravena, held a 44-35 cushion in the third period before USJR battled back in the final frame for a down-the-wire finish while the Growling Tigers banked on a 41-point outburst in the third period to put the game away.

Seldom-used Gwynne Capacio led Ateneo with 12 points while Ravena and point guard Nico Elorde shot 11 points each.

National University and University of the East also prevailed over their respective opponents.

NU ripped UIC, 99-56, while UE crushed University of Northern Philippines, 112-38.

In women’s basketball, Lyceum nipped UST, 72-69, while Ateneo held AdD U to just three points in the second half for a 106-17 whipping.

De La Salle-St. Benilde turned back FEU, 51-48, before NU breezed past UP-D, 92-71, also in the women’s division.

Over in women’s volleyball, UST defeated USJR, 25-22, 25-14, 25-19, while FEU beat USC, 25-20, 25-11, 25-10, after beating Foundation University, 25-9, 25-9, 25-13, in its first game early in the morning. USLS won over DLS-CSB, 25-15, 25-19, 25-15.