By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
THE league-leading Ateneo Blue Eagles stayed in top form yesterday, adding to the misery of still-winless University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 83-65, to race to their fourth straight win in as many games in University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80.
The lone unbeaten so far early in the new UAAP season entering the contest, the Katipunan-based Eagles made sure that such standing would hold with a convincing win over the Warriors, which dropped to 0-4 for the season following their latest defeat.
Later in the day, the Adamson Soaring Flacons rebounded from a previous loss, getting the better of the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 83-76, to improve to 2-2.
Ateneo met strong resistance from UE to open the game before the Eagles cranked things up on both ends of the court in the second half of the opening quarter, with their bench showing the way, to build an 18-11 lead at the end of the frame.
The second quarter saw both ends having it slow on offense, fighting to a 24-18 affair with 2:33 left in the canto with Ateneo still ahead.
But the Eagles would go on an 8-5 run thereafter to remain in command, 32-23, at the halftime break.
The Recto-based Warriors opened things with a lot of energy in the third period, racing to a 6-0 blast to cut their deficit to just three points, 32-19, with 8:20 to go on the clock.
Guard Matt Nieto would stop the bleeding for Ateneo with a basket from midrange.
UE continued to charge back but Ateneo would find ways to stave off the Warriors and create a wider separation anew, 43-33, midway into the quarter.
The Eagles would remain in command and build an even bigger lead before settling for an eight-point cushion, 60-52, at the end of the third frame.
Veteran Alvin Pasaol jump-started the charge back anew by UE in the payoff quarter but like in the preceding period Ateneo would find an answer.
The score stood at 72-59 with 5:00 remaining on the clock with Ateneo ahead.
Ateneo compounded UEโs woes as Thirdy Ravena went on a 7-1 run of his own to pad their lead to 19 points, 79-60, in the next three minutes.
The Eagles just locked things the rest of the way and completed the streak-keeping victory.
Ravena was lead man for Ateneo in the win with 21 points and eight rebounds.
Nieto had 11 while his brother Mike and Aaron Black finished with 10 points each.
Pasaol led UE with 21 markers with Nick Abanto adding 10 points.
โUE despite its record is a tough team. Good thing our players played well to close out the game for us to win,โ said Ateneo assistant Sandy Arespacochaga after their win.
ADAMSON BOUNCES BACK
Meanwhile, in the second game, Adamson returned to winning after absorbing a loss at the hands of the De La Salle Green Archers in their last game by defeating NU and improving to 2-2.
The two teams played it nip-and-tuck right from the starting gates, winding up knotted at 19-all at the end of the first period.
Adamson then would step on the gas in the second canto, behind the all-around effort of Jerie Pingoy, to take a 43-32 at the break.
Veteran Jayjay Alejandro tried to rally NU back to the game, towing the Bulldogs to within five points, 47-42, in the first five minutes.
But Papi Sarr and Jonathan Espeleta came to Adamsonโs rescue to help their team to keep control of the match at the end of the third quarter, 60-50.
Alejandro would lead NU again in the fourth period to narrow their deficit to just six points, 66-60, with six minutes remaining.
The Falcons though would hang tough, not surrendering the lead and sealed the win.
Sarr led Adamson with 19 points and 13 rebounds while Alejandro wound up with 25 points to pace NU, which dropped to 2-2.
UAAP action resumes on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with Season 80 host Far Eastern University Tamaraws taking on NU at 2 p.m. and Ateneo colliding against the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at 4 p.m.
