Struggling for most of the game, Kieffer Alas delivered when it mattered most, lifting the Ateneo Blue Eagles o an 87–76 win over NU Bulldogs and into the solo lead in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
Shooting just 3-for-16 from the field, Alas still had the confidence to take the big shots late in the game, knocking down his next four attempts to score 10 points in the final 2 minutes and 34 seconds and turn a 73–74 deficit into a double-digit victory.
“Talaga lang makapal ang mukha. Kidding aside, I told him that as long as it’s not a bad shot, as long as you’re free, go, because that’s your role, to score,” said Ateneo head coach Louie Alas.
Ateneo Mounts Stunning Comeback
Completing a telling comeback from a 17-point deficit in the first half, the Blue Eagles climbed to the top of the crowded standings with their second straight win.
Reinhard Jumamoy gave the Bulldogs a brief lead after drilling back-to-back layups to put NU ahead, 74–73, with 2:54 left in the game, but that only seemed to wake Alas up.
Alas answered with a layup of his own to put Ateneo back in front before Ian Espinosa dove for a loose ball, leading to an EJ Kapihe breakaway that gave the Blue Eagles a 77–74 cushion.
Alas then came up with a steal of his own and converted the ensuing layup before delivering the dagger—a well-contested three-pointer with 1:08 remaining that extended Ateneo’s lead to 82–74.
Ateneo actually started on a sour note, falling behind 19–36 midway through the second period. But seniors Shawn Tuano and Andrew Bongo caught fire, fueling a furious rally that allowed the Blue Eagles to seize a 45–40 lead at halftime.
“Our team has been working on different types of stuff, so I can’t say that there’s pressure in the last couple of minutes, but I feel like what we’ve been through helped with how we handle pressure in a way,” said Kieffer Alas, who finished with 18 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
Blue Eagles Step Up
Bongo added 16 points, 15 of which came in the first half, while Tuano and Travis Roberts chipped in 14 points apiece.
Kapihe also turned in his best game so far in his one-and-done season with the Blue Eagles, finishing with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and a game-best plus-25 rating in 27 minutes of action.
Ateneo will look to extend its winning streak to three games on Wednesday when it takes on defending champion La Salle Green Archers in the first rivalry game of the season at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Tebol Garcia led NU with 18 points, but the Bulldogs slipped to 2–2 and are tied with the UST Growling Tigers for fifth and sixth place.
Jumamoy followed with 15 points on 16 attempts, along with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, while Paul Francisco added 14 points but made only two field goals in the second half.
NU will also return to action on Wednesday against the Adamson Soaring Falcons as it looks to get back on track.
