Ateneo’s one-and-done trio arrived in Season 88 with heavy expectations — and when the Blue Eagles’ season hung in the balance, two of them answered the call.
Throughout the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, Kymani Ladi, Dominic Escobar, and Jaden Lazo were seen as the catalysts of Ateneo’s bid to return to the Final Four after last year’s disappointing 4-10 finish.
And with the Blue Eagles teetering on the brink of elimination, Escobar of Cal State LA and Ladi of Merritt College made sure their lone year in Blue and White would not end quietly.
“I think it’s really important to us. We only have a year and that’s it,” said Escobar.
Escobar tallied 14 points and five rebounds, while Ladi added 13 points and five boards as Ateneo stayed alive in the semis race with a commanding 72-61 victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Ateneo’s hopes of avoiding back-to-back missed Final Four appearances for the first time in the league’s Final Four era will now hinge on its last elimination-round game — a high-stakes duel against archrival De La Salle on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Win, and Ateneo secures at least a playoff for a semis berth, depending on other results.
Lose, and it’s the end of the UAAP road for Ladi, Escobar, Lazo, and Ateneo lifer Josh Lazaro.
“This next game is very crucial for us. We’ve got everything to lose on this next game,” said Escobar. “We’ve got to leave everything out there on the court. That starts with practices. We’ve got to make sure we get our proper rest and recovery for tonight.”
“I think we know how crucial it is for these next couple games. We’re trying our best to do what we can so that the team gets a win,” added Ladi.
