Eagles clinch 9th straight win

Gian Mamuyac reminded everyone yesterday why he was once called a “Steph Curry stopper.”

The lanky guard set the tone defensively in the second half as Ateneo outplayed National University, 85-72, and closed in on the first Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 80 basketball tourney at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The 6-foot-1 Mamuyac scored six of his eight points after the turn and helped put the clamps down on Bulldogs star J-Jay Alejandro while his Blue Eagles teammates led by Thirdy Ravena conspired in a strong finish en route to their ninth straight victory.

“Gian did a great job on him,” said Ateneo assistant Sandy Arespacochaga, pleased with Mamuyac’s defensive job on Alejandro who could only score six points after exploding for 16 in the first 10 minutes.

Ravena also tipped his hat to Mamuyac, who made headlines last year when he blocked the three-point attempt of Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry during a scrimmage in Taiwan.

“He was the sparkplug of the second half with the way he played defense,” said Ravena, who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

NU’s woes turned from bad to worse with more than four minutes to play after coach Jamike Jarin was tossed out for incurring his second technical foul for using profane language, perhaps frustrated as Ateneo started to break away behind a 13-4 run.

The Bulldogs suffered their fifth loss in their last six matches and remained at sixth spot with a 3-6 mark.

Meanwhile, Earlier, Adamson turned back streaking University of the East, 66-57, to put its title campaign back on track.

Cameroon big man Papi Sarr banged in a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds while Jerrick Ahanmisi led their local charge with 14 points, spiked by a pair of triples, as the Soaring Falcons displayed a balanced attack plus a sustained defensive effort to repeat over the Red Warriors and jack up their record to 6-3, good for third.