UAAP: Ateneo feast on NU, snags first semis seat

 

QUEZON CITY—Defending champion Ateneo booked the first ticket to the Final Four as it tamed National U, 79-64, in the first game of Saturday’s UAAP Season 81 seniors’ basketball at the Smart- Araneta Coliseum. The Katipunan-based ballclub spewed with fire right from the get-go to complete the rout for a 9-2 record and a seat in the next round for the fifth straight season. 

 

Thirdy Ravena instigated a 10-0 first-quarter blitz which the Bulldogs failed to recover. The lead even went to as high as 24, 44-20, on Ravena’s split from the line with 1:59 left before halftime.  

 

NU mounted a comeback in the third quarter behind rookie John Lloyd Clemente, but the Blue Eagles continued its dominance from then on for the win. 

 

Ravena finished the game with a double-double 23 points and 12 rebounds with 3-of-7 clip from beyond the arc. Angelo Kouame added 19 with 17 boards and six blocks, while rookie guard SJ Belangel chipped in 11. 

 

“Our gameplan was focused on NU, not looking beyond this game. That’s the keypoint that we’re stressing that NU’s a dangerous team,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga in a post-game interview. 

 

 Clemente eclipsed his previous career-high with 25 points and eight boards on a 5-of-8 shooting from downtown, but couldn’t stop the Season 81 hosts to go down at 3-7. Dave Ildefonso struggled with a 5-of-16 field goal shooting but still managed to compile 13 markers and six boards. 

 

The next four games will be crucial for the boys of Coach Jamike Jarin in hopes of making it to the next round. 

 

The Scores:

Ateneo 79 - Ravena 23, Kouame 19, Belangel 11, Verano 7, Go 7, Tio 3, Black 3, Mendoza 2, Mamuyac 2, Daves 2, Asistio 0, Wong 0, Navarro 0, Andrade 0.

 

NU 64 - Clemente 25, Ildefonso D 13, Ildefonso S 7, Diputado 5, Yu 5, Gaye 4, Joson 3, Rike 2, Gallego 0, Sinclair 0, Galinato 0, Morido 0, Malonzo 0.

 

Quarter Scores: 22-11; 47-25; 65-47; 79-64.