Eagles trounce Warriors
By Alder T. Almo
16 July 2009 07:06 PM
Manila – The Ateneo Blue Eagles quickly turned the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors from solid contenders to mere 'pretenders' in a 72-57 dismantling during Wednesday’s main game in the 72nd University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
For one quarter, the Red Warriors looked every inch a worthy contender.
Riding on Val Acuna’s hot shooting, UE stormed to a 28-11 lead.
Ateneo, however, quickly regrouped in next quarter and put the clamps on UE’s shooters and their open court game.
After two quarters, only one basket separated the defending champion Blue Eagles and the Red Warriors.
From a 37-35 halftime deficit, Ateneo grabbed the lead for the first time on Noy Baclao’s basket, 48-47.
Reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini buckled down to work and pounded the Warriors’ defense. His 11 points in the third period boosted the Blue Eagles’ lead to six.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Emman Monfort and Bacon Austria opened the payoff period that signaled the fall of the once mighty Red Warriors.
Acuna, who scattered 19 points in the first two quarters, was silenced in the second half while the Blue Eagles went from cold to hot, erecting a 66-50 bulge midway through the fourth period.
UE mainstays Paul Lee and Elmer Espiritu combined for only seven points in the second half hastening their team's meltdown.
“We gambled a lot on defense in the first quarter and did not respect (UE’s) shooters. We did a better job defensively in the second half and that spelled the difference,” Ateneo mentor Norman Black said.
Al-Hussaini churned out another MVP performance finishing with 27 points and 11 boards to pace the defending champions.
The win put the Blue Eagles on the top spot with a 2-0 win-loss record tied with the UST Growling Tigers, whom they will face next.
The Scores:
ADMU 72 – Al-Hussaini 27, Salamat 12, Baclao 10, Reyes 7, Salva 6, Monfort 3, Austria 3, Gonzaga 2, Chua 2, Tiongson 0, Long 0, Buenafe 0.
UE 57 – Acuna 21, Lee 14, Reyes 7, Llagas 6, Espiritu 6, Zamar 3, Lingganay 0, Flores 0, Ayala 0, Alabanza 0.
Quarters: 11-23, 35-37, 54-48, 72-57.
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