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[av_heading heading=’ Ateneo nips UST, keeps slate clean ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Ateneo Blue Eagles squandered a lead as high as 22 points before hanging on to a 94-84 win over University of Santo Tomas Tigers in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Matthew Nieto led the way with career-high 22 points while Isaac Go and Ilonggo Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Blue Eagles Wednesday night.
Blue Eagles remained on the top spot with a 5-0 win-loss slate and moved closer to a first-round sweep if it beats National University Bulldogs on Sept. 30 and De La Salle University Green Archers on Oct. 8.
From a tightly contested opening quarter, Blue Eagles started to pull away in the second quarter on conversions from Nieto, Go and rookie Gian Mamuyac for a 55-43 advantage at the half.
Blue Eagles’ lead even reached as high as 22 points early in the third 69-47 on a triple by Nieto but Tigers clawed its way back behind Marvin Lee to come to within 71-76 heading into the fourth quarter.
Tigers pulled even closer 80-81 on a Lee triple but Blue Eagles countered with a huge finishing run behind Anton Asistio, Vince Tolentino and Ravena to build a 10-point edge on free throws by Nieto.
“We are not happy with our performance. Not taking away from UST, they played a good game. They’ve been staying close. It’s only in the end game that’s what they need to improve on,” said Blue Eagles assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.
Lee top-scored with 22 points while rookie Jordan Sta. Ana contributed career-high 21 markers for Tigers, which suffered its fifth consecutive defeat in as many matches./PN
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