MANILA – Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles recovered from a flat start to score a 65-55 victory over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Ivorian import Angelo Kouame tallied 10 points and 15. Ilonggo Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena also had double-double 10 points and 10 boards, while Pat Maagdenberg contributed nine markers as the Blue Eagles improved to 11-0 slate.
Down 29-40 at the half on Wednesday, the Blue Eagles slowly clawed its way back in the third period behind Ravena, Kouame and Adrian Wong to come to within 46-47 entering the fourth.
The defending champions Blue Eagles continued its run in the fourth, unloading seven straight points while holding the Tamaraws scoreless in the first three-and-a-half minutes to take a 54-47 lead.
The Tamaraws made its last push to come to within 55-57 on consecutive triples from Wendell Comboy but the Blue Eagles answered with eight straight points to build its biggest lead at a 65-55.
In the first game, De La Salle University Green Archers survived the illness of a number of players; it hacked out a come-from-behind 65-59 win over the University of the East Red Warriors.
Justine Baltazar held the fort for the
Green Archers with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jamie Malonzo and Encho
Serrano added 12 points each as they improved to a 5-5 win-loss slate./PN
