MANILA – Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles captured the 2018 FilOil Flying V Premier Cup championship with a resounding 76-62 thumping of San Beda University Red Lions on Saturday at San Juan Arena.
Angelo Kouame posted double-double 15 points and 16 rebounds to help Ateneo reclaim the title after seven years. Raffy Verano and Jolo Mendoza added 9 points each.
Aside from bagging the crown the reigning UAAP men’s basketball winner also finished the tournament unbeaten in 12 matches.
Holding to a slim 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, Blue Eagles started to pull away in the finals’ second period before setting its largest lead in the match – 21 points – in the third quarter on a basket by Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III.
But Red Lions did not cave in just like that – it made its last run to come to as close as 59-70 late in the fourth quarter before Blue Eagles sealed the win on a Verano triple and free throws from Ravena.
“We had to take something and learn from the past games. The players responded. They followed instructions,” Blue Eagles assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga shared. “You got to give credits to the players.”
Javee Mocon finished with double-double 14 points and 12 rebounds while Donal Tankoua added 13 points and five rebounds for the dethroned FilOil champion Red Lions.
Far Eastern University Tamaraws salvaged a third-place finish by reasserting its mastery of College of Saint Benilde Blazers 78-58. Joseph Nunag and Ken Tuffin finished with 9 points each for FEU./PN
