Eagles still unscathed; Warriors outsteady Bulldogs
Ateneo, getting 18 points from Mike Nieto and a double-double from Angelo Kouama, manhandled University of Perpetual Help, 83-59, on Friday to stay undefeated in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.
Barely 24 hours after scoring a 94-60 demolition of National University, the reigning UAAP champion Blue Eagles went practically unchallenged in rising to 6-0 overall.
Perpetual Help remained winless in five games.
Ateneo hit 13 triples and was 14-for-15 from the foul line.
Kouame tallied 17 points that went with 11 rebounds, with Matt Nieto adding 12 and Thirdy Ravena scoring 10.
The Altas were led by transferee Kim Aurin’s 18 points. Tonton Peralta added 11 and Prince Eze 10 points and 10 rebounds.
University of the East pulled out an impressive 78-74 win over National University in the day’s other featured match.
Alvin Pasaol was big for the Red Warriors as usual, shooting 22 points that went with 14 rebounds as UE improved to 3-4.
Rey Acuno backed him up with 20 points as they formed a two-sided battering ram that doomed the Bulldogs to their fifth loss in eight games of the tournament where teams fine-tune their games for the coming collegiate season.
Jojo Antiporda, a rookie out of Chiang Kai Shek, added 14 for the Warriors, who hope to at least make the Final Four in the UAAP under new coach Joe Silva.
“Rey has been playing well for us in the past three, four games,” said Silva of Acuno, a graduating big man.
