Ateneo collides with UPIS in UAAP Jrs hoops

THE Ateneo de Manila High School (AHS) Blue Eaglets eye to sustain their winning momentum as they face the University of the Philippines Integrated School Junior Maroons (UPIS) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 79 juniors basketball tournament on Saturday at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Blue Eaglets ended their three- game losing skid after they dispatched the University of the East ( UE) Junior Warriors, 89- 62, last Saturday.

Jason Credo led the Blue Eaglets with 19 points; five rebounds, shooting three out of four from the arc, while Dave Ildefonso added 13 markers and eight rebounds. Samjosef Belangel marked a doubledouble performance of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

UE’s Sean Manaug led the Junior Warriors with 12 points and six rebounds while Andrei Dulalia notched a doubledouble performance of 10 points and 10 rebounds.

“I told them we have to focus on defense and I also told them to focus on passing the ball. We really have to improve on our turnovers. We have to minimize it. UP is a strong team so we really have to analyze the video then work from there,” Ateneo head coach Joe Silva said.

Meanwhile, UPIS fell to two- game losing skid after suffering defeat at the hands of the Far Eastern University ( FEU) Baby Tamaraws, 68- 84.

Juan Gomez De Liano led the Junior Maroons with a double-double output of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Matt Santiago scored 12 points and four rebounds.

FEU’s Daniel Celzo led the Baby Tamaraws with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Xyrus Torres tallied 16 points and six rebounds. Kenji Roman got 13 points and 12 rebounds.

The Ateneo-UPIS match will start at 9 a.m. Both teams are sharing the fourth spot with identical 2-3 win-loss cards.

The De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ) Junior Archers will face the UE Junior Warriors at 11 a.m. followed by the battle between top seeds Adamson University (AdU) Baby Falcons and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Cubs at 1 p.m.

Defending champions National University (NU) Bullpups will face the FEU Baby Tamaraws at 3 p.m.