Ateneo wallops Adamson, nears UAAP elims sweep
Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles sent Adamson University Falcons crashing with a 91-57 beating in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball on Tuesday night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Matthew Daves spearheaded the offense with career-high 18 points on 8-of10 shooting as the Blue Eagles inched closer to an elimination round sweep with its 12-0 slate.
Naturalized center Angelo Kouame put on another impressive game with 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals as Chris Koon chipped in eight points and seven rebounds for Ateneo.
The Soaring Falcons, which were on a four-game winning run prior to the game, were able to keep in step with Ateneo in the first frame, trailing by just three at the end, 17-20.
But it was an entirely different story in the second quarter as the Blue Eagles showed their defensive prowess, limiting Adamson to just seven points, while making 20, to bring a 40-24 lead at the half.
Ateneo then put more weight in the third period, outscoring the Soaring Falcons, 25-17, to build a huge 24-point lead heading into the payoff frame, 65-41.
“I think second quarter was really telling in this game,” said Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin. “They got some rhythm but second quarter, everyone went there and dug in.”
Jerom Lastimosa was the lone Adamson player in double figures with 16 points on a 6-of-11 clip from the field but committed four turnovers. They slid to 5-7 slate.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons secured a twice-tobeat edge in the post-season after tripping University of the East Red Warriors, 81-68.
Filipino-American import Zavier Lucero tallied doubledouble 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Ricci Rivero chipped in 17 points and four rebounds for the Fighting Maroons.
National University Bulldogs, on the other hand, halted its four-game slide with a 73-60 beating of University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers. Negrense Reyland Torres led the Bulldogs with 18 points.
BOX SCORE:
ATENEO 91 – Daves 18, Kouame 18, Koon 8, Ildefonso 7, Belangel 7, Padrigao 6, Tio 6, Verano 6, Mamuyac 6, Mendoza 4, Andrade 3, Lazaro 2, Gomez 0.
ADAMSON 57 – Lastimosa 16, Manzano 8, Yerro 8, Douanga 6, Barasi 5, Hanapi 4, Sabandal 3, Peromingan 3, Colonia 2, Magbuhos 2, Jaymalin 0, Zaldivar 0, Maata 0, Fuentebella 0, Erolon 0, Calisay 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 4024, 65-41, 91-57./ASC, WDJ