By: Ohmer Bautista
The battle of two champions turned out to be a more of a declaration.
For the third straight year, the Preseason Cup resulted in a sweep. But this time around, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles secured the biggest sweep in the 12-year history of the tournament, capping their 12-game rampage with a 76-62 rout of the San Beda University Red Lions.
The tournament has seen two 11-game sweeps prior.
The National University Bulldogs achieved the feat in 2012, and San Beda did the same last year. The De La Salle University Green Archers had a nine-game sweep back in 2016.
“We had to take something and learn from the past games. The players responded. They followed instructions,” Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga shared. “You got to give credits to the players.”
Ateneo got off to a strong start behind their tight-knit offense and hard-nosed defense, leading to a sizable lead, 45-26, approaching half time.
However, the Red Lions wouldn’t back down, uncorking a 12-7 rally to close within 14, 56-42, with under a minute left in the third.
But it proved to be last roar for the Red Lions, as the Blue Eagles raced out the gates in the fourth quarter, unloading a 10-5 spurt, capped by a split in the charity stripe from prized-rookie Sj Belangel, 66-49, with a little over five minutes remaining.
Ivorian reinforcement Angelo Kouame, who towered for Ateneo with a double-double performance of 15 points and 16 boards in the finale, was adjudged season MVP.
“Very happy for him individually,” coach Arespacochaga bared. “We would like to see him to continue to improve.
“He’s a very good learner, he’s skilled. He’s a sponge,” he added.
Jolo Mendoza and Raffy Verano added nine points each in the finale.
Meanwhile, Javee Mocon paced San Beda with a double-double of his own, posting 14 points and 12 rebounds that went down the drain. Donald Tankoua added 13 markers.
Gilas cadet Robert Bolick, who was fielded for two minutes in the second half of the game, finished without a point in a total of 10 minutes of play.
The Scores:
ADMU 76 – Kouame 15, Mendoza 9, Verano 9, Ravena 7, Belangel 7, Nieto Mi 6, Asistio 6, Go 6, Mamuyac 5, Navarro 3, Maagdenberg 3, Nieto Ma 0, Tio 0, Wong 0, Black 0, Andrade 0
SBU 62 – Mocon 14, Tankoua 13, Abuda 9, Canlas 7, Doliguez 6, Nelle 5, Cabanag 4, Oftana 2, Carino 2, Tongco 0, Bolick 0, Eugene 0, Cuntapay 0, Burri 0
Quarterscores: 19-15, 45-26, 56-42, 76-62
