The Ateneo Blue Eagles survived a late rally from the FEU Tamaraws, 75-72, in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Blue Eagle Gym in Quezon City.
Ateneo controlled most of the game and took a 46-30 lead into halftime. With 1:51 left, Sultan Baruwa’s free throws and Travis Roberts’ and-one gave the Blue Eagles a comfortable 73-62 cushion.
But the Tamaraws refused to go away. Jedric Daa, Jorick Bautista, and Mo Konateh combined for 10 unanswered points, and Bautista’s three cut the deficit to one, 72-73, with 5.8 seconds left.
Kieffer Alas calmly sank both of his free throws on the next possession to make it 75-72. After a timeout, Janrey Pasaol’s floater missed, and Ateneo sealed the victory.
“It’s a very, very big win swing for us because I know we’re just one game behind sa mga nasa upper bracket,” said interim Ateneo head coach Louie Alas. “‘Yung last practices namin, I told them it’s not about the X’s and O’s; it’s all about the willingness to sacrifice.”
Alas led the Blue Eagles with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Jared Bahay added 15 points and 4 assists, while Baruwa posted a career-best double-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals.
For FEU, Bautista finished with 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Konateh added 12 points and 16 rebounds, while Mongcopa and Cabonillas each chipped in 11 points.
NU Grounds Adamson for Top Spot
Later that day, the NU Bulldogs cruised past the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 79-43. After a tight first quarter, NU clamped down on defense and outscored Adamson 20-5 in the second period to take a 40-24 lead into halftime.
The Bulldogs kept pulling away after the break, stretching the lead to 29, 63-34, entering the final period. They never let up in the fourth and finished the game with a 36-point win.
“Siyempre, give credit sa mga players; they executed well ‘yung game plan namin from second to fourth quarter,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa. “Inayos lang namin ‘yung mindset para kahit papaano, bumalik kami sa pagiging disciplined sa defense.”
Justine Garcia led the Bulldogs with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, while PJ Palacielo added 12 points.
For Adamson, Emman Anabo was the lone player with double figures, scoring 11 points.
The two winners collide on Wednesday, October 28, when Ateneo takes on NU at 2:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Later that day at 5:00 p.m., FEU and Adamson will both try to bounce back when they face each other.
