MANILA, Philippines – Despite struggling in their offense for most of the game, the Ateneo Blue Eagles still managed to hack out a 73-61 triumph over University of the East Saturday in the UAAP Season 74 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The three-time champion Ateneo shot a low 37.3 percent from the field but thanks to solid plays from its reliable cohorts Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena and Nico Salva, the Blue Eagles remained unbeaten in four stints.
“We struggled all game, luckily we didn’t turn the ball over as much,” said multi-titled Ateneo mentor Norman Black.
The seven-foot Slaughter proved to be too much down low as he bullied his way to an 18-point 10-rebound performance.
“UE played, I give credit to them. They did a good job on their man-to-man defense,” added Black.
The Red Warriors, the only winless team with a 0-4 record, kept within striking distance before Slaughter completed a three-point play with 5:08 left that extended the Blue Eagles buffer to 11, 58-47.
Pocket-sized point guard Eman Monfort took the fight out of UE for good with five unanswered points.
Ravena capped an 11-5 blitz by Ateneo with a breakaway one-handed slam that sent the crowd in a frenzy.
Ravena finished with 13 points while Salva chipped in with 10.