Blue Eagles escape growling winless Tigers

Games Saturday (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. – DLSU vs UST 4 p.m. – NU vs AdMU

Slightly different route, same result.

League-leading Ateneo got pushed to the limit by a hardfighting University of Santo Tomas side but did just enough at endgame to notch its fifth straight victory, 94-84, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Eagles stormed to a 22-point margin but unlike in their previous blowout wins, they couldn’t shake off the pesky Tigers and had to come through with a late surge to secure their hardest-earned win of the season.

“We’re happy we won the game but at the same time, not taking anything away from UST which played a good game, we’re not happy with our performance,” said AdMU assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

Ateneo seemed headed for another runaway win when it went up, 69-47, at the 7:21 mark of the third. But the resilient Tigers ended the quarter strong to get to within 76-71. The Tigers managed to close in at 81-80 on a triple by Marvin Lee in the final canto but the Eagles proved to be steadier going to the finish with Anton Asistio, Thirdy Ravena and Matt Nieto conspiring in a 13-3 salvo to end the match.

Earlier, Far Eastern U turned back National U, 90-83, to take solo fourth at 3-2.

Arvin Tolentino fired a career-high 23 points spiked by three triples while Axel Inigo and Barkley Ebona chipped in 12 and 10, respectively, as the Tams got back-to-back wins for the first time after a blow-hot, blow-cold start.

The scores: First Game FeU 90 – Tolentino 23, Inigo 12, ebona 10, Comboy 9, Parker 9, Tuffin 7 Dennison 6, Orizu 6, Cani 5, Escoto 3, Ramirez 0. NU 83 – Alejandro 23, Aquino 13, Gaye 8, Morido 7, yu 7, Mosqueda 6, Salem 6, Bartlett 4, Lastimosa 3, Joson 2, Abatayo 2, Rangel 2, diputado 0, Cauilan 0, Tibayan 0, Flores 0. Quarterscores: 22-15, 48-41, 76-68, 90-83. Second Game AdMU 94 – Ma.Nieto 22, Go 13, Ravena 12, Mamuyac 8, Asistio 7, Ikeh 7, Mi. Nieto 6, Tolentino 5, Verano 4, Mallillin 3, Tio 3, Black 2, Mendoza 2, Porter 0. UST 84 – Lee 22, Sta. Ana 21, Romero 3, Faundo 6, escalambre 6, Akomo 6, Basibas 4, Huang 4, Garcia 4, Soriano 3, de Guzman 2, Kwawukumey 0, Arana 0. Quarterscores: 2923, 55-43, 76-71, 94-84.