Defending UAAP Men’s Basketball Champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles ended their run of five games in five days with the most impressive outing in the 12-year history of the Preseason Cup.
The Blue Eagles picked up a lopsided 108-44 victory over the hapless Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, Monday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
“We emphasized to our players that we got to play this game professionally and play every possession. We had a big lead but I told them to not look at the score, just the execution,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.
Coming off their annual camp in Baler, the Blue Eagles faced the Perpetual Altas last Thursday and the NU Bulldogs last Friday in the Preseason Cup. They then took on the Letran Knights in the SMART City Hoops 25-Under Summer Classic, before facing the Adamson Soaring Falcons yesterday in the SMART Basketball Breakdown Invitationals. Ateneo went a perfect 5-for-5 in all the games.
This time around, the Blue Eagles fired all cylinders, knocking down 18 triples while dishing out 30 assists in the game.
“We also wanted to make sure that we are crisp with our passing. There’s a tendency for our players to look at the stats. I’m happy that the players stuck to what we wanted to do,” he added.
Matt Nieto led Ateneo with 14 points, while Jolo Mendoza added 13 markers in just 10 minutes of game time.
Prior to the game, the Generals had cut Jerome Garcia, Dan Corilla, Renzo Tampoc, Ichie Altamirano, and Allan Martin. Everyone was brought back after the game.
In the main serving for the day, the San Beda University Red Lions bounced back from their loss to UP last Friday by handing the De La Salle University Green Archers their first loss of the tournament, 72-70.
“Well, unang-una I took the blame on our game against UP due to the fact that I tried to mix up my rotations kasi we have to see other players playing with one another in preparation as usual for the NCAA,” rued San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez. “But it backfired on us.”
San Beda are now 3-2 in Group A, while DLSU dropped to solo second with a 6-1 record.
“Actually we didn’t rotate everyone again but we stuck with out rotations (this game). Even though La Salle came back in the third quarter and they even led in the fourth, at least our defense is there,” added the decorated mentor. “Just what I always say, I will always credit a won game to the boys but take the blame in a loss.”
Javee Mocon, who was playing in his second game of the day, towed the Red Lions with 20 points.
Former Red Cub Andrei Caracut paced La Salle with 20 points as well.
In the first game, the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas picked up their first win in six games in Group A, stunning the lackadaisical University of the East Red Warriors, 95-75.
Luke Sese led the lambasting with 25 points while Edgar Charcos and Kim Aurin had 15 and 14 markers repectively.
Things got heated in the final frame after a Sese bump on Paul Manalang. Seeing this, his brother Philip took offense to this, confronting and spitting on Sese. The two had to be separated afterwards.
Alvin Pasaol was limited to just 14 points in the contest.
Later on, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws clinched a quarterfinals seat, after plowing the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags, 78-66.
It was a well-balanced attack by the Tamaraws once again as 12 of their players scored a field goal in the game.
Brandrey Bienes led the Tamaraws with 13 points, while Prince Orizu finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.
RK Ilagan powered San Sebastian’s late comeback attempt, scoring a game-high 21 points.
Ateneo’s Jason Credo advanced to the final four of the Hanes Kings of the Hardcourt One-on-One tournament after Jed Mendoza of JRU defaulted.
The Scores:
First Game:
UPHSD 95 – Sese 25, Charcos 15, Aurin 14, Eze 12, Cuevas 8, R Peralta 8, Soriano 6, Razon 6, Mangalino 1, Pasia 0, Tiburcio 0, Tamayo 0, Precillas 0.
UE 75 – Pasaol 14, Ph Manalang 13, Acuno 12, Conner 10, Varilla 9, Strait 3, Maloles 2, Pa Manalang 2, Gagate 2, Bartolome 2, Beltran 2, Antiporda 2, Gallardo 2, Guion 0, Dimayuga 0, Cullar 0, Sobrevega 0, Lacap 0.
Quarterscores: 23-12, 54-28, 75-47, 95-75.
Second Game:
ADMU 108 – Nieto Ma 14, Mendoza 13, Wong 10, Nieto Mi 10, Andrade 9, Mamuyac 9, Black 7, Ravena 7, Malilin 6, White 6, Verano 5, Navarro 4, Go 4, Maagdenberg 4
EAC 44 – Robin 12, Natividad 7, Bugarin 7, Diego 4, Gonzales 4, Mendoza 2, Fuentes 2, Neri 2, Ling 2, Cadua 2, Maguliano 0, Estacio 0
Quarterscores: 35-11, 58-20, 86-30, 108-44
Third Game:
FEU 78 – Bienes 13, Tuffin 10, Comboy 9, Orizu 8, Ebona 7, Iñigo 6, Cani 5, Parker 5, Tolentino 5, Nunag 4, Bayquin 3, Casino 3, Stockton 0, Ramirez 0, Jopia 0
SSC-R 66 – Ilagan 21, Bulanadi 12, Calma 8, Dela Cruz 7, Calisaan 6, Capobres 6, Villapando 6, Sumoda 0, Valdez 0, Baytan 0, Vinte 0, Isidro 0, Serajosef 0, Desoyo 0
Quarterscores: 19-8, 36-15, 61-40, 78-66
Fifth Game:
SBU 72 – Mocon 20, Tankoua 9, Eugene 8, Cariño 8, Nelle 7, Tongco 6, Bolick 4, Soberano 4, Presbitero 3, Bahio 2, Cuntapay 2, Abuda 0, Doliguez 0, Cabanag 0.
DLSU 70 – Caracut 20, Baltazar 13, Samuel 13, Melecio 8, Santillan 6, Lim 6, Manaytay 2, Corteza 2, Go 0, Bates 0, Tolentino 0, Capacio 0, Dyke 0, Manuel 0.
Quarterscores: 14-16, 37-30, 55-55, 72-70
