Payback Time: Eagles waylay Maroons
By Alder T. Almo
06 September 2009 07:00 PM
Manila – The Ateneo Blue Eagles smothered their first round tormentor University of Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 93-75, during Sunday’s 72nd UAAP men’s basketball at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
Leaving no room for another upset, the Blue Eagles were all fired up from the start zooming to an early 14-0 lead and never looked back.
A stark contrast of their first round encounter, Ateneo shot a remarkable 49.3 percent on a season-high 25 assists to break UP’s zone defense.
“Acutally the game was won in the first half. We’re at this point of the season when it’s all about winning,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black.
The Maroons got no closer than 12 points when Arvie Braganza converted back-to-back triples, 22-34, midway the second canto.
Braganza who scored a season-high 13 points, left the game late in the third period when his father Agapito fainted in the sidelines. He rushed his father to the nearest hospital and missed the entire fourth quarter.
Eric Salamat had a career-high 23 points and five assists to lead the Blue Eagles’ rousing win. Jai Reyes also shone in Ateneo’s payback win with 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the three-point territory and six assists.
Reyes alone outdid the team’s four three-point performance in their 58-68 loss to UP in the first round. He tied his teammate Emman Monfort for the most three-points converted this season.
The Blue Eagles erected several 20-point leads that even extended to 26 points, 82-56, on Monfort’s three-point play in the last three and a half minutes of the game.
It was the ninth straight win for the Blue Eagles, who will meet strongest rival Far Eastern University Tamaraws (11-2) for the top spot on the last playing date of eliminations on Saturday.
The Scores:
ADMU 93 – Salamat 23, Reyes 18, Al-Hussaini 16, Monfort 9, Salva 8, Long 7, Buenafe 5, Sumalinog 4, Gonzaga 2, Austria 1, Tiongson 0, Golla 0, De Chavez 0, Chua 0, Burke 0.
UP 75 – Reyes 21, Braganza 13, Padilla 10, Co 8, Sison 4, Gingerich 4, Astorga 4, Lopez 3, Hipolito 3, Gamboa 3, Maniego 2, Marfori 0, Juruena 0, Gomez 0, De Asis 0.
Quarters: 27-13, 49-29, 76-51, 93-75.
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