THE ATENEO Águilas Azules closed the first round of the qualifiers with force by defeating the Red Warriors of the Universidad de Oriente (UE) by 91 to 76, at dawn today at the Ynares Sports Center in the City of Antipolo.
The Blue and Whites finish the first round on a high note with three straight wins, putting them at a 5-2 record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) 85th season. His usual run in the third quarter proved too much for the Reds. Guerreros like Ateneo outscored their opponents, 19-6, in the third half.
Man of the game Dave Ildefonso led the team in scoring with 20 points and four rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Team captain BJ Andrade dusted himself off after an abysmal few games and chipped in 11 points, with nine coming from 3-pointers. Confident sophomore guard Kyle Paranda gave it his all in UE’s loss, scoring 17 points and dishing out five assists.
The Blue Eagles seemed intent on bagging the lone spot for third in the team standings early in the opening frame, with high-quality shooting taking them to a 9-2 lead. Ateneo’s defensive mettle was finally put to the test by the energetic Red Warriors, with an and-one by CJ Payawal that plunged Ateneo into a 16-19 deficit with 1:49 to play. An exchange between a Gab Gomez rainbow and a Kyle Paranada deuce had the quarter ending deadlocked at 21 apiece.
[First Quarter]
Andrade makes it all the way to the cup for the layup when trainer Jack Santiago now calls a timeout.
Ateneo 16 EU 10#UAAPBaloncesto pic.twitter.com/v5D6gCk6wQ
– Anton Mercado (@Anton_TheGUIDON) October 23, 2022
The back and forth affair of the contest continued in the second quarter, highlighted by Dave Ildefonso’s acrobatic reverse layup that put Ateneo on top, 33-31. In a succession of big buckets from Kai Ballungay and Andrade, the Katipunan-based ballclub was sickened by UE’s signature 7-0 run that cut Ateneo’s lead to 46-44 by halftime.
[Second Quarter]
Ildefonso and Padrigao each hit baskets to keep Ateneo ahead.
Ateneo 35 UE 31#UAAPBaloncesto pic.twitter.com/39m2Flw6tD
– Anton Mercado (@Anton_TheGUIDON) October 23, 2022
After a hard-fought first half, the Blue Eagles stormed into the third period on a dominant 17-0 run, extending the lead to 63-44. The Red Warriors had no answers for the Tab Baldwin-led unit, as he only scored their first points in the second half of the quarter, around four minutes in, on a layup by Gani Stevens. The blue and white reserves did just enough to control the moment and close an explosive fourth, 65-50.
[Third Quarter]
Ildefonso is still scorching, drilling another three pointer.
Ateneo 57 EU 44#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/H8I2Hc6wad
– Anton Mercado (@Anton_TheGUIDON) October 23, 2022
Ateneo danced the final song, exploiting mismatches and a fatigue-induced Red Warriors team en route to a 91-76 victory.
[Fourth Quarter]
Ballungay with a good cut from the corner and Padrigao rewards him with a good plate for the slam!
Ateneo 83 UE 61#UAAPBasketball pic.twitter.com/wPHFgDZmAm
– Anton Mercado (@Anton_TheGUIDON) October 23, 2022
This victory ends the first round campaign for the Águilas Azules, who sit alone in third place in the standings. The second day of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Tournament will resume on Saturday, October 29, 2022.
Box Scores:
Athenaeum (91): Ildefonso – 20, Ballungay – 14, Padrigao – 11, Andrade – 11, Kouame – 8, Garcia – 6, Lazaro – 6, Fornilos – 4, Gomez – 3, Koon – 2, Quitevis – 2, Chiu – 2, Daves – two
EU (76): Paranada K. – 17, Pagsanjan – 17, Villegas – 10, Stevens – 8, Remogat – 7, Payawal – 6, Alcantara – 5, Paranada N. – 4, Sawat – 2
Quarterly scores:
Ateneo-UE: 21-21, 46-44, 65-50, 91-76
Source: news.google.com