Ateneo de Manila University showed that it is still a force heading to UAAP Season 86.
Coming off a disappointing outing in the 2023 Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup, the Blue Eagles went guns ablazing in the 2023 Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup, capping their sweep of the field with a 65-63 escape of National University on Thursday at Villar Coliseum in Las Pinas.
Down 63-62, Mason Amos, who had been cold in the first three quarters of the game, knocked down a cold-blooded elbow triple with 1:47 left in the game that served as the winner.
NU had multiple chances to tie the game but misses from Donn Lim — including two from the charity stripe — and a wide-open miss by Paul Francisco from deep spelled the doom for the Bulldogs.
Kai Ballungay was named the MVP of the Final after finishing with eight points, five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
Geo Chiu and Amos both got eight points apiece with the former also grabbing five rebounds and swatting away two shots.
Ateneo went undefeated in the tournament — going 8-0 in the elimination phase, blowing out Far Eastern University in the quarterfinals (74-58), before scoring a 97-60 beatdown of Emilio Aguinaldo College in the semis.
Mohamed Diassana led NU with 12 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks while PJ Palacielo and Paul Francisco combined for 17 points.
Clint Escamis of Mapua was named Tournament MVP.
Joining him and Ballungay in the Mythical Team are Bryan Sajonia of San Beda, Allen Liwag of Saint Benilde, and Kingsley Ududo of Guang Ming.
Diassana was the Defensive Player of the Tournament while Ududo was the Best Foreign Student-Athlete. Sajonia was the Best Newcomer as well.
Reggz Gabat of San Sebastian was the Scoring King, Escamis was Mr. Prime Dime, Ududo was the Chairman of the Board, La Salle’s Henry Agunnane was the Sultan of Swats, San Sebastian’s Rafael Are was the Ultimate Thief, while Mapua’s Paolo Hernandez was the Rainmaker.
Composing the All-Rookie Team are UP’s Francis Lopez, NU’s Reinhard Jumamoy, JRU’s Shawn Argente, Amos, and La Salle’s EJ Gollena.
Meanwhile, Benilde’s Allen Liwag, Anton Eusebio, and Tony Ynot; Sajonia, and Lim consist the All-Transferee Team.
