Ateneo de Manila University needed to dig deep to topple University of the East, 76-69, and even its record in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
The Blue Eagles upped their slate to 2-2, tying the Red Warriors for the fifth to sixth spots.
“I thought our first half we didn’t play good defense and it was an individual letdown, the intensity wasn’t there. Third quarter wasn’t much better but the fourth quarter was. We really dug down deep and defended much more intelligently,” said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
Kai Ballungay and Jared Brown’s back-to-back threes gave the Blue Eagles a 71-64 lead but Abdul Sawat and Precious Momowei connived for five straight points to pull the Red Warriors within two with 3:05 to go in the game, 69-71.
Brown, a first-year player out of Westmont College in California, then responded with another triple for a five-point Ateneo advantage, 74-69, with 1:56 remaining.
The defense of the defending champions held UE scoreless in the last three minutes and five seconds of the game.
“Anytime you get a W it feels good as a team. This year is gonna be about growth but I feel like we need to grow fast,” said Ballungay, who tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
One-and-done Nigerian center Joseph Obasa posted 16 points, eight rebounds, and six blocks, while Brown chimed in 11 points for Ateneo.
The Red Warriors fouled 30 times in the game, resulting in 25-of-34 shooting from the free throw line for the Blue Eagles. Ateneo gave up only 15 fouls, resulting in four free throws for its foe, only making one.
Ethan Galang, Wello Lingolingo, and Momowei each made 12 points for UE. Galang grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists, while Momowei collected 10 rebounds.
Rey Remogat struggled from the field, going 4-of-15 for nine points while also notching seven assists and five rebounds.
Both teams will be back on weekend at the same Pasay venue. Ateneo will look to improve over .500 on Saturday against Far Eastern University, while UE aims to bounce back on Sunday against Adamson University.
The Scores:
Ateneo 76 – Ballungay 18, Obasa 16, Brown 11, Koon 7, Amos 6, Lazaro 5, Tuano 4, Quitevis 4, Nieto 3, Bongo 2, Espinosa 0, Gomez 0.
UE 69 – Galang 12, Momowei 12, Lingolingo 12, Remogat 9, Cruz-Dumont 8, Wilson 7, Sawat 7, Tulabut 2, Gilbuena 0, Alcantara 0, Fikes 0.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 43-38, 59-58, 76-69.
