By CARLO ANOLIN
Ateneo beat Japan’s Tokai University, 68-59, to bag the inaugural World University Basketball Series (WUBS) title yesterday at the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
The Blue Eagles completed a tournament sweep after earlier beating Tokai, Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, and Indonesia’s Universitas Pelita Harapan.
The title win bodes well to Ateneo’s pre-season campaign heading into the UAAP Season 85 in October as it showed glimpse of their future lineup with Kai Balunggay leading the pack.
Dave Ildefonso and Paul Garcia connived down the stretch to lift the Eagles after a nip-and-tuck affair in the first three quarters.
Aside from Ildenfonso and Garcia, timely baskets from Balunggay and Sean Quetevis enabled Ateneo to pull away for good and take home the WUBS crown.
“We feel great about the experience coming here. And hipefully we continue to strenghten the quality of our team that has come here,” said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
Ildefonso spearheaded the Eagles with 12 points.
