ANTIPOLO — Coming off a wake-up call at the hands of FEU, every member of Ateneo de Manila University responded with a clinical decimation of University of the East in the UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament, 84-50, Sunday at Ynares Center here.
Isaac Go led the Blue Eagles with 13 points, going 3-of-6 from deep off the bench to cruise to their 22nd straight victory.
Ateneo shot 14-of-42 from threes, a healthy 33-percent shooting clip, while also garnering 47 points from its subs.
“Very proud of the team. That first half was patchy but generally good. I think probably there are some individual disappointments in the first half. Some players didn’t protect the ball very well,” said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
“Maybe our shot selection, I think we settled for the 3 a little too much too early in the first half. And if we ran our offense and we get good movement in our offense, then we shouldn’t be settling for the three,” he continued.
Ange Kouame also dropped 11 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks, while Thirdy Ravena uncorked 11 points, seven boards, and two assists.
UE grabbed an early 4-0 lead, but that turned out to be its one and only stand. Ateneo then went on a 17-2 run to seize control of the game before extending the lead to 17, 40-23, late in the second period.
The lead ballooned to as high as 36, 82-46, with Go completing an and-one play with 1:03 left to play.
The Blue Eagles are now just two wins away from an eliminations sweep, which will reward them with an outright Finals berth.
Meanwhile, UE dropped to 3-9 to fall out of the Final Four race, missing the playoffs for the 10th straight season.
Alex Diakhite fired 15 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists for UE. Rey Suerte collected 10 points, four boards, and two dimes.
Ateneo will next face the NU Bulldogs on Saturday, October 26. Meanwhile, UE will have a week-long break before facing the FEU Tamaraws on Sunday. Both games happen at Ynares Center.
The Scores:
ADMU 84 — Go 13, Kouame 11, Ravena 11, Belangel 9, Wong 9, Ma. Nieto 6, Tio 6, Chiu 4, Credo 4, Mamuyac 3, Mi. Nieto 3, Maagdenberg 2, Mallillin 2, Andrade 1, Daves 0, Navarro 0.
UE 50 — Diakhite 15, Suerte 10, Abanto 6, Apacible 6, Camacho 3, Cruz 3, Antiporda 2, Pagsanjan 2, Tolentino 2, Manalang 1, Conner 0, Lorenzana 0, Mendoza 0, Natividad 0.
Quarterscores: 17-8, 40-25, 65-35, 84-50.
