Ateneo hit two birds with one stone Saturday by getting back at last year’s Finals conqueror University of the Philippines, 75-67, in the UAAP Season 85 Men’sBasketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Blue Eagles withstood UP’s late surge to avenge a 76-71 defeat to the reigning champions on Oct. 16, 2022 for a 10-3 record.
More than that, the Eagles secured a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four – thanks to the inspired performances of Matt Daves, Angelo Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, Kai Ballungay, BJ Andrade, and Gab Gomez.
Ateneo can secure the top seeding if it beats Adamson on Wednesday.
In beating the Maroons, Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin lauded the team’s gutsy effort.
“I said to Epok Quimpo [Ateneo team manager] before the game (that) I will have to work hard today but I said so would Goldwin (Monteverde),” said Baldwin. “It was really hard work but not nearly as hard as the work that the team put in.
Up by only four points entering the final quarter, Ateneo rushed to a 73-60 lead which they smartly protected.
Carl Tamayo and Malick Diouf combined to trim the deficit to 67-73 with less than two minutes left, but it was just too big a mountain to climb as Ateneo held on for a win over its neighbors.
Equally impressive was University of the East which repeated over La Salle, 80-72 in overtime.
With UE coach Jack Santiago asking for a gift – another win against La sale – the Warriors played their hearts to their mentor’s satisfaction.
Santiago reserved his special words of thanks to Rey Remogat who fired a career-high 24 points to help UE finish with a 5-9 record,
Taking their lessons from their 69-66 overtime loss to the Eagles this week, the Warriors showed endgame to end their campaign on a winning note.
La Salle’s defeat put their semis aspirations in peril after Adamson prevailed over NU,
The Falcons, who will still face the Eagles on Wednesday, improved to 7-6, while the Archers slipped to fifth at 6-7.
The Archers, however, will have an easy assignment in the UST Tigers. (NIKOLE JAVIER)
The scores:
Third Game
UE 80 ‒ Remogat 24, K. Paranada 13, Stevens 12, Villegas 10, N. Paranada 6, Gilbuena 5, Pagsanjan 4, Sawat 4, Payawal 2, Tulabut 0, Alcantara 0.
LA SALLE 72 ‒ Nonoy 14, Austria 10, Nwankwo 10, Nelle 8, Cortez 8, Macalalag 8, Quiambao 7, B. Phillips 4, Estacio 3, Abadam 0, Winston 0.
Quarters: 16-27, 36-33, 50-51, 68-68, 80-72.
Fourth Game
Ateneo 75 – Ildefonso 15, Kouame 14, Padrigao 13, Andrade 8, Koon 7, Daves 6, Gomez 5, Ballungay 4, Lazaro 3, Chiu 0, Garcia 0.
UP 67 – Tamayo 20, Alarcon 10, Cagulangan 9, Fortea 9, Diouf 7, Galinato 7, Spencer 5, Lucero 0, Abadiano 0, Gonzales 0.
Quarters: 23-18, 35-37, 53-49, 75-67.
