ATENEO relied on a third quarter blitz to overcome University of the East (UE)., 91-76 in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men’s basketball tournament Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
Dave Ildefonso led all scorers with 20 points with Kai Ballungay adding 14 points for Ateneo. Forthsky Padrigao and BJ Andrade scored 11 points each while Angelo Kouame had 20 rebounds.
“We’re comfortable where we’re at,” Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said. “Of course, we’d like to have a higher placing but the two games we lost were competitive games.”
“Obviously, UP [University of the Philippines] is the standard-setter in the league right now and La Salle—you know that’s a rivalry game,” Baldwin said. “When you look at La Salle’s record now, you might think that’s a disappointing loss for us. While it is disappointing, when you put it in context, anything can happen in a La Salle-Ateneo game.”
Ateneo held a 46-44 lead at halftime but broke loose with a 17-0 run five minutes into the third quarter for a 63-44 separation.
Ateneo led as many as 83-61 on a Ballungay dunk with 3:27 remaining in the game.
The Blue Eagles’ persistence paid off with 18 second-chance points as well as 50 points in the paint. In contrast, the Red Warriors only made two second-half points and 26 in the shade.
Kyle Paranada and Harvey Pagsanjan scored 17 points each while Luis Villegas had 10 points and 13 rebounds also for Ateneo.
Ateneo ended its first-round campaign in third place with a 5-2 record while UE in fifth place with a 3-4 card.