In a battle between former arch-rivals, the Cignal-Ateneo Blue Eagles got their act together in the third quarter, blasting the Petron-Letran Knights, 83-64, Thursday in the 2019 PBA D-League at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
BJ Andrade waxed hot in the third frame, firing 10 of his 13 points in the period, as the Blue Eagles turned a 36-35 halftime deficit to a commanding 63-54 lead.
That was the buffer Cignal-Ateneo needed to break the floodgates and grab a lead as high as 20, 82-62, late in the game.
Mike Nieto contributed 12 points and two rebounds, while Matthew Daves just missed out on a double-double of 10 points and nine boards. Ivorian slotman Ange Kouame bucked foul trouble to nab 10 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.
“Our discipline wasn’t good in the first half and that’s not the right recipe to play successful basketball,” reflected coach Tab Baldwin, as his side improved to solo third place at 4-1 in the Aspirants Group. “But we sorted some things out; BJ, Mike, and Matt (Nieto) hit some shots out, and that got us in the right track. We did what we have to do.”
The Knights leaned on Jerrick Balanza, who poured 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists in the defeat.
Alvin Pasaol added 15 points and eight rebounds, as Jeo Ambohot chipped in 10 points and six boards for Petron-Letran.
The Knights saw their three-game winning run halted to drop to 3-2.
The Scores:
Cignal-Ateneo 83 – Andrade 13, Mi. Nieto 12, Daves 10, Kouame 10, Go 9, Ma. Nieto 9, Verano 8, Belangel 8, Credo 4, Tio 0, Berjay 0.
Petron-Letran 64 – Balanza 16, Pasaol 15, Ambohot 10, Taladua 6, Sangalang 5, Ular 4, Pambid 4, Muyang 2, Olivario 2, Reyson 0, Yu 0, Balagasay 0, Mina 0, Caralipio 0.
Quarterscores: 21-13, 35-36, 63-54, 83-64.
