Cignal-Ateneo overcame a sluggish first half to eliminate Chadao-FEU, 67-60, to punch the first semifinal ticket in the 2019 PBA D-League Monday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Blue Eagles wiped out an 11-point second quarter deficit by coming out alive the in the third before Jolo Mendoza, Thirdy Ravena, and Ange Kouame applied the finishing touches.
“Our mentality was to take it possession by possession,” said Cignal-Ateneo lead assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga of their fightback.
The Ivorian Kouame paced the Blue Eagles with 14 points and 14 rebounds with two steals and a game-high three blocks, as Ravena supplied 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
Kouame and Ravena were also in the forefront of Cignal-Ateneo’s 21-7 blitz abridging the second and third quarters, which melted the 11-point deficit and became a 39-38 lead for the Blue Eagles.
Chadao-FEU played catch-up ball from there and managed to knock by a point with 4:32 left, but Mendoza led a 7-0 run that gave Cignal-Ateneo a 64-56 lead which was enough to seal the win.
Cignal-Ateneo will now await the winner between Che’Lu Bar and Grill and Valencia City-San Sebastian for their opponent in the semis.
Cade Flores led Chadao-FEU with 14 points and seven rebounds. Joseph Nunag was the only other Tamaraw who finished in double figures with 10 markers, alongside three rebounds.
The Scores:
Cignal-Ateneo 67 — Kouame 14, Ravena 10, Go 8, Ma. Nieto 6, Navarro 5, Andrade 5, Mendoza 5, Tio 4, Belangel 4, Mamuyac 2, Mi. Nieto 2, Daves 2.
Chadao-FEU 60 — Flores 14, Nunag 10, Comboy 9, Bienes 8, Stockton 7, Tuffin 6, Tchuente 4, Mantua 0, Gonzales 0, Cani 0, Casino 0.
Quarterscores: 11-17, 32-36, 48-46, 67-60.
