MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles is one victory away from securing an outright finals seat in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament.
The Blue Eagles notched its 13th straight win on Thursday night by holding off Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 70-53, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The defending champions Blue Eagles can make its return trip to the finals when it beats University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday evening.
Raffy Verano spearheaded the Blue Eagles with 17 points, 13 rebounds, two steals, and a block, while Tyler Tio chipped in 14 points on a 3-of-4 clip from behind the arc.
Already ahead by 10 at the half, the Blue Eagles still pounced even more in the third, scoring 18 while limiting the Tamaraws to just 11 points to enter the fourth frame ahead by 17, 51-34.
The Tamaraws came to within 45-56 in the fourth quarter on a triple by Rhon Jay Abarrientos but Verano and Gian Mamuyac answered for the Blue Eagles with seven straight points to widen the lead to 63-45
“I didn’t think we played well today,” said Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin. “I think FEU had a bit to do with that. Gotta give Olsen a lot of credit. Unfortunately for them, they failed to hit open shots.”
Abarrientos had 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field while L-jay Gonzales got 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists as the Tamaraws dropped to 6-7.
De La Salle University Green Archers (8-5), meanwhile, clinched the third seed in the UAAP Final Four after derailing Adamson University Falcons (5-8) , 64-51.
Knotted at 43 entering the fourth period, Evan Nelle and Justine Baltazar took charge for the Green Archers with a 16-4 run to take a 59-47 advantage with just 2:57 to go.
Filipino-American import Deschon Winston led the Green Archers with 19 points, including 14 in the second half, while Evan Nelle and Kurt Lojera had 11 and 10, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
ATENEO 70 — Verano 17, Tio 14, Belangel 8, Ildefonso 8, Mamuyac 7, Kouame 4, Koon 4, Mendoza 3, Padrigao 3, Chiu 2, Lazaro 0, Daves 0, Gomez 0, Andrade 0.
FEU 53 — Abarrientos 12, Gonzales 10, Torres 8, Alforque 5, Ojuola 5, Tempra 4, Sleat 3, Sajonia 3, Celzo 2, Coquia 1, Bienes 0, Sandagon 0, Li 0.
Quarterscores: 17-11, 33-23, 51-34, 70-53. /PN
