Isaac Go finally came alive for Ateneo-Pilipinas, leading the Philippine-side’s 89-78 victory over the Indonesian Men’s National Basketball Team, Thursday afternoon at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Go, who was averaging 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds prior to this game, was on fire all throughout the contest. The 2018 Chooks-to-Go/UAAP-NCAA Press Corps Pivotal Player of the Year had a team-high 21 points, spiked by six triples.
And he proved to be pivotal in a huge third quarter rally by the Blue Eagles.
Down 55-49 early in the third frame, the Blue Eagles went on a 27-7 rally to break the game wide open. Go had 10 points during the run while Filipino-Kiwi Patrick Maagdenberg had five to give Ateneo a 76-62 lead heading into the final quarter.
Behind Ricardo White and Andakara Dhyaksa, the Indonesians were able to cut the lead down to just nine, 74-83, but a booming triple by Jolo Mendoza stopped Indonesia from its tracks.
Maagdenberg, who was only averaging a point a game, had 14 points off the bench.
Thirdy Ravena and Angelo Kouame also had 14 markers each with the former grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five dimes while the Ivorian student-athlete also had seven boards — down from his 13 rebounds per game average.
As a team, Ateneo had a field day from deep, knocking down 14 triples.
Naturalized Indonesian White paced Indonesia with 23 points. National team stalwart Kaleb Gemilang added 18 markers.
Ateneo Pilipinas looks to keep it going when it faces Lithuanian squad LSU-Atletas on Friday, July 20.
The Scores:
Philippines 89 – Go 21, Ravena 14, Maagdemberg 14, Kouame 14, Asistio 8, Ma. Nieto 6, Navarro 4, Tio 3, Mendoza 3, Verano 2, Andrade 0, Mamuyac 0
Indonesia 78 – White 23, Gemilang 18, Prawiro 13, Grahita 10,Dhyaksa 5, Kurniawan 4, Wuwungan 3, Indrawan 2, Sitorus 0, Putra 0
Quarterscores: 24-19, 41-44, 76-62, 89-78
