ATENEO MASTERY. Emman Monfort of Ateneo goes high for a layup off Lester Alvarez of Adamson University on Sunday at the opening of the 74th UAAP season . Ateneo won, 55-51. Photo by August de la Cruz
MANILA, Philippines—Ateneo reasserted its longstanding mastery over Adamson anew with a flimsy 55-51 victory in the opening of the UAAP Season 74 Men’s Basketball competitions at the Araneta Coliseum Sunday.
The Blue Eagles bucked an anemic shooting in the payoff period, then held the Falcons spellbound in the last seven minutes of the match.
“Our defense picked up in the last minute,” said Ateneo head coach Norman Black.
The towering center and national team mainstay Greg Slaughter was phenomenal in his debut for the Blue Eagles as he finished with 23 points and eight rebounds.
Prized rookie Kieffer Ravena took just one shot in 14 minutes and finished scoreless in his first game in the seniors division.
After catching fire in the third quarter, the Falcons suddenly ran out of gas as Roider Cabrera’s second triple and a basket by Kenyan Austin Manyara with 6:58 which gave Adamson a 51-44 advantage was the last time they would score.
The Falcons, who last won over Ateneo in the UAAP was in September 18, 1997, actually had a chance to tie or snatch the victory with 20 ticks remaining, but it ended up with a costly turnover off a woeful pass from guard Lester Alvarez to Cabrera.
Alex Nuyles had 11 points to lead Adamson in a losing cause while Alvarez added eight along with five assists.
The scores
Ateneo 55 – Slaughter 23, Long 10, Salva 8, Monfort 6, Erram 3,Gonzaga 3, Austria 2, Ravena 0, Tiongson 0, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0, Chua 0
Adamson 51 – Nuyles 11, Alvarez 8, Canada 6, Camson 6, Cabrera 6, Manyara 5, Lozada 3, Etrone 2, Brondial 2, Colina 2
Quarters: 16-12, 33-27 43-44, 55-51