The Ateneo Blue Eagles came through in the clutch to beat the NU Bulldogs, 69-65, in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday.
After three quarters, the game was tied 53-53, but the Bulldogs got a three-point breather in the final two minutes of the game, 62-59.
However, Jared Bahay hit back-to-back threes to put Ateneo on top, 65-62, with 1:19 remaining. Kieffer Alas followed with a triple of his own to give the Blue Eagles a comfortable 68-62 lead with 35.8 seconds remaining.
Macmac Alfanta answered back, trimming Ateneo’s lead down to three, 68-65, with 24.2 seconds left. Reinhard Jumamoy missed his three-point attempt and committed an unsportsmanlike foul on Alas, who sealed the victory from the line for the Katipunan-based squad.
“We call it an important shot, but I guess for me it’s not that important,” said Bahay. “We couldn’t find our rhythm, but we just trusted our shots.”
Alas led the Blue Eagles with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, while Bahay added 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.
For NU, Mo Diassana finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while Jumamoy had 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Ateneo will next face the La Salle Green Archers on Saturday, October 31, at 6:00 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. Earlier that day, at 2:30 p.m., NU will face the UST Growling Tigers.
FEU Holds Off Adamson
Later that day, the FEU Tamaraws held off the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 73-66.
Trailing 44-58 at the start of the fourth quarter, Adamson made a late push, and Kenji Cañete’s driving layup with 2:59 left cut the deficit to five, 60-65. The Tamaraws answered right away. Janrey Pasaol hit a three from the left corner, and Jorick Bautista made two free throws to restore a 70-60 lead with 1:43 left.
“It really showed in the first three quarters and a half how well we were focusing on our defensive side of the ball,” said FEU head coach Sean Chambers. “Of course, we didn’t like how we finished off the game, but I think that’s basketball; we finished it off.”
Kirby Mongcopa led the Tamaraws with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Cabs Cabonillas added 11 points and 6 rebounds, Pasaol had 10 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals, and Marc Burgos chipped in 10 points and 4 rebounds.
For Adamson, Cañete finished with a career-high 14 points, while Matt Erolon contributed 13 points and 3 assists.
FEU will next face the UE Red Warriors on Wednesday, November 4, at 2:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Later that day, at 5:00 p.m., Adamson will face the UP Fighting Maroons.
