Ateneo slams UE; Adamson wins

Games Wednesday (Smart-Araneta Coliseum) 8 a.m. — NU vs FEU 10 a.m. — Ateneo vs UST

Everything is falling into place for powerhouse Ateneo these days. The same, however, could not be said of slumping University of the East.

Banking on another balanced attack, the Blue Eagles made life miserable anew for the Red Warriors yesterday, 83-65, and continued their winning ways in the UAAP Season 80 basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Thirdy Ravena sustained his bril- liance with 21 points, highlighted by a triple from 28 feet during their strong closeout that enabled the Blue Eagles to turn what was shaping up a tight finish into a cruise.

Matt Nieto backstopped Ravena with 11 points, eight of them coming in the third canto, while four other teammates added at least eight points each as Ateneo streaked to its fourth straight victory in as many matches and kept its hold of the top spot.

UE, meanwhile, suffered its fourth consecutive loss and dropped into a tie with another struggling squad, University of Santo Tomas, at the cellar.

“We played well in the fourth, and we played efficient offense in the fourth,” admitted Ateneo coach Sandy Arespacochaga, pleased with how Ravena and Co. got it done behind a 19-6 run in a six-minute stretch in the payoff period.

As convincing as the final scores may look, Arespacochaga admitted the Blue Eagles had some trouble shaking off the Red Warriors.

In the other match, Adamson defeated National University 83-76 to put its title campaign back on track.

Cameroon import Papi Sarr had a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds while teaming up with fellow Soaring Falcons Jerrick Ahanmisi and Jerie Pingoy to hold off the Bulldogs’ late fightback.

Ravena 21, Nieto Ma. 11, Black 10, Nieto Mi. 10, Tolentino 9, Asistio 8, Verano 4, Porter 3, Ikeh 2, Go 2, Mendoza 2, Tio 1, White 0, Mallillin 0, Mamuyac 0, Andrade 0.

Pasaol 22, Abanto 10, Maloles 9, Derige 6, Acuno 5, Bartolome 4, Olayon 4, Conner 3, Varilla 2, Manalang 0, Cullar 0, Armenion 0, Gagate 0.

Quarters: 18-11, 32-23, 60-52, 83-65.

Sarr 19, Ahanmisi 13, Espeleta 13, Pingoy 12, Manganti 5, Ochea 4, Camacho 4, Bernardo 4, Mustre 3, Manalang 2, Lojera 2, Zaldivar 2, Paranada 0.

Alejandro 25, Gaye 8, Bartlett 7, Lastimosa 7, Aquino 6, Mosqueda 6, Salem 3, Joson 3, Yu 3, Morido 2, Rangel 2, Diputado 2, Tibayan 2, Abatayo 0, Cauilan 0, Flores 0.

Quarters: 19-19, 43-32, 60-50, 83-76.