After rampaging through the SMART City Hoops 25-Under Division and the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup, presented by Chooks-to-Go, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles were able to secure a triple crown.
Sunday afternoon, the defending UAAP Men’s Basketball Champions clinically dissected the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 77-58, to win the SMART Breakdown Basketball Invitationals Under-25 tournament at the Moro Lorenzo Gym in Quezon City.
Isaac Go, who was adjudged the Finals Most Valuable Player, had an efficient outing, tallying 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field to go along with three rebounds in just 16 minutes of game time.
Behind Go and the rest of Ateneo’s bench mob, the Blue Eagles were able to break the game wide open as early as the second frame. Behind their crisp ball movement and lock down defense, Ateneo went on a 17-3 rampage to start the quarter.
Adamson were able to cut the lead to as low as nine points late in the third quarter, but Ateneo proved too much.
Former San Beda Red Lion William Navarro was on fire in the final frame, making all of his three attempts in the final frame. A Navarro jumper with 1:12 left gave Ateneo a 77-54 lead.
Navarro added nine points, while Ivorian student-athlete and tournament MVP Angelo Kouame gobbled down 11 rebounds with four points.
As a team, the Blue Eagles shot 49 percent from the field compared to just 33 percent for the Soaring Falcons. Moreover, Ateneo assisted on 20 of their 27 field goal makes.
Papi Sarr was the sole Soaring Falcon to score in double-figures with 14 points. Sean Manganti and Jerrick Ahanmisi limited to just eight points each, while Jerie Pinoy went scoreless.
The Blue Eagles are set to leave for Taiwan on Friday, June 13, for the 2018 William Jones Cup.
The Scores:
ADMU 77 – Go 14, Navarro 9, Ravena 8, Mamuyac 8, Asistio 7, Nieto Mi. 6, Mendoza 6, Maagdenberg 4, Kouame 4, Tio 3, Wong 2, White 2, Belangel 2, Nieto Ma. 2, Black 0, Verano 0.
ADU 58 – Sarr 14, Manganti 8, Ahanmisi 8, Mojica 7, Camacho 6, Espeleta 5, Magbuhos 3, Colonia 2, Zancibar 2, Macion 2, Catapusan 1, Pingoy 0, Bernardo 0, Maata 0.
Quarterscores: 18-16, 43-30, 61-50, 77-58.
