Dragged into another tight endgame, Ateneo turned to its defense to hack out a 77-72 victory over University of the East last night and sustain its winning run in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup.
The Eagles held the Warriors to a single field goal in the last five minutes, while Von Pessumal and Kiefer Ravena came through with clutch baskets to boost the five-time defending UAAP champions to their fifth win in six outings at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Ravena finished with 23 points that went with seven rebounds and five assists, while Pessumal contributed 19, built on 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
“I think my team gave the new definition of the word gritty,” said Ateneo coach Bo Perasol. “That’s the way they played. They were so persistent.”
Earlier, Robin Rono buried a triple at the buzzer as National U nipped St. Benilde, 70-67, for its second victory in Group A.
Bobby Ray Parks dished out another all-around effort with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, the last of which was converted by Rono, who made the game’s biggest shot at the corner as time expired.
Southwestern U notched its first win of the tournament by repulsing Lyceum, 74-64.
Melvin Holper, brother of former PBA player Mike Holper, fired 13 points for the Cobras, who improved to 1-4. With reports from Patty Perez, Nikka Valenzuela, Nico Pascual
The scores:
First Game
SWU 74—Holper 13, Landry 11, Arong 11, Bautista 6, Panerio 6, Siewe 6, Otida 6, Bregondo 5, Mohammed 4, Ortega 3, Goloran 3, Pajantoy 0.
LYCEUM 64—Ko 21, Zamora 15, Lesmoras 9, Mendoza 4, Taladua 4, Azores 3, Edora 3, Francisco 2, Evangelista 2, Soliman 1, Garcia 0, Fabian 0, Lacastesantos 0, Alanes 0, Ambohot 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 34-24, 51-45, 74-64
Second Game
NU 70—Parks 15, Rosario 14, Aroga 10, Villamor 10, Javelona 5, Rono 5, Alejandro 5, Javillonar 4, De Guzman 2, Neypes 0.
ST. BENILDE 67—Romero 22, Sinco 12, Saavedra 9, Grey 7, Garcia 6, Ongteco 4, Taha 4, Argamino 3, Bartolo 0, Deles 0, Nayve 0, Castor 0.
Quarters: 22-17, 38-29, 52-44, 70-67
Third Game
ATENEO 77—Ravena 23, Pessumal 19, Elorde 14, Golla 8, Newsome 6, Murphy 3, Tiongson 2, Tolentino 2, Asistio 0, Lim 0, Babilonia 0.
UE 72—Sumang 18, Mammie 12, Noble 8, Jumao-as 7, Javier 6, Bonleon 5, Santos 4, Casajeros 4, Olivarez 4, Guion 2, Flores 2, Sumido 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 43-37, 58-61, 77-72