Fresh from an emotional win against rivals De La Salle University yesterday, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles bagged another win, this time against the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 59-51, at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The win gave the Blue Eagles a 4-2 win-loss record with two games remaining. Ateneo, JRU, and La Salle are vying for the last two playoff spots in Group A.
It was a hard-earned win considering it was a back-to-back game, with players still on a Blue and Green-rivalry high. Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin had to remind his players, “We have to respond to every situation we confront. We talked about it [the mental lapse] but I still think there was, we talked about it.”
Ateneo’s Chibueze Ikeh pulled off 13 crucial rebounds, eight coming in the second half, that helped Ateneo fend off JRU.
“He had a terrible first half, that’s what I was talking about when I said the guys had a letdown from yesterday. He just mentally wasn’t there in the first half,” Baldwin remarked. “In the halftime, we challenged him, and he responded really well. He had a good second half.”
After a nip and tuck first three quarters, the Blue Eagles were able to break away in the final frame, leading by as many nine points, 57-48, off baskets from Anton Asistio and Ikeh.
Asistio led the boards with 17 points with three triples and a perfect six out of six in the free throw line.
A booming triple by Teytey Teodoro with 2:27 left cut the lead to just six. However, that was the last basket they would score, as Ateneo locked JRU down on defense the rest of the way.
Newly-committed rookie from La Salle Greenhills, Troy Mallillin, also saw action today for the first time with the Blue Eagles. The 17-year-old played nine minutes and grabbed five rebounds.
“It’s great to have Troy in the roster. We’re thrilled that he fell on our lap, he’s a kid with immense talent, he’s got a great pedigree, NCAA MVP last year. We look for big things from this kid just like anybody who have gotten him,” Baldwin added.
The Heavy Bombers’ Darius Estrella had 14 points while Ervin Grospe added 11 markers. Teodoro was limited to only 10 points on just 4-for-15 shooting. In the end, JRU was not able to keep up with Ateneo’s game.
Ateneo will face Perpetual, June 14, and San Beda, June 16 next. The JRU Heavy Bombers also are set to meet San Beda on June 14. – By: Danine Cruz
The Scores:
ADMU (59) – Asistio 17, Verano 8, Go 7, Nieto Mi 5, Ravena 5, Tolentino 4, Ikeh 4, Nieto Ma 2, Mendoza 2, Tio 2, Mallillin 2, White 1, Black 0, Andrade 0, Porter 0.
JRU (51) – Estrella 14, Grospe 11, Teodoro 10, Lasquety 4, Poutuouchi 4, Abdul Wahab 2, Mendoza 2, Bordon 2, Mate 2, Dela Virgen 0, Sawat 0.
Quarterscores: 11-15, 26-30, 43-42, 59-51.
