MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles used a huge third quarter breakaway to defeat National University Bulldogs, 77-60, in the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball on Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Angelo Kouame tallied double-double 17 points and 12 rebounds to go with three blocks as the Blue Eagles tied University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on top with 2-0 win-loss slate.
Rence Padrigao followed up his solid showing against Far Eastern University Tamaraws with 13 points, while Dave Ildefonso and Kai Ballungay had 12 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Blue Eagles.
Holding to a 38-30 lead at the half, the Blue Eagles opened the third quarter with a 14-2 scoring blast behind Padrigao, Ildefonso and Bryan Andrade for a 52-32 spread with over five minutes in the quarter.
The Bulldogs responded with a huge run in the fourth quarter as they cut the deficit to 12 points but the Blue Eagles responded with a 10-0 blast as the lead reached its largest at 75-53 on a layup by Ildefonso.
“Glad to be 2-0. Obviously still a lot of work to do,” said Blue Eagles head coach Thomas Baldwin. “I thought we played pretty well. NU is a disruptive team when they play, and they threw different looks at us.”
“At times, we didn’t look very cohesive, but 50% field goal percentage for the game, we were able to find people when we moved the ball,” added the former Gilas Pilipinas head coach.
Michael Malonzo was the lone player to score in double figures for the Bulldogs with 13 points to go with his nine rebounds, while John Lloyd Clemente and Jolo Manansala got nine each.
Rookie Kean Baclaan struggled anew as he went 3-of-15 from the field for his seven points and four assists for the Bulldogs, which dropped to 1-1 win-loss record in the standings.
The Blue Eagles hopes to continue their winning ways in the season when they face rival De La Salle University Green Archers on Sunday afternoon at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
BOX SCORE:
ATENEO 77 — Kouame 17, Padrigao 13, Ildefonso 12, Ballungay 10, Andrade 9, Koon 6, Lazaro 5, Gomez 3, Daves 2, Chiu 0, Garcia 0, Quitevis 0, Fornilos 0, Lao 0, Ong 0.
NU 60 — Malonzo 13, Clemente 9, Manansala 9, Baclaan 7, Figueroa 6, Yu 4, Galinato 3, Palacielo 3, Minerva 2, John 2, Tulabut 2, Mahinay 0, Padrones 0.
Quarterscores: 20-15, 38-30, 60-45, 77-60./PN
