MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles kept their title-retention bid alive after a 70-48 rout of Adamson University Falcons in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball do-or-die game on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Jared Brown spearheaded the offense with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and a steal, as the defending champions Blue Eagles secured the fourth and last Final Four spot.
“Our coaches have been preaching the game plan and just following what they would say and I think today we really followed it to a tee and we executed what they wanted,” said Brown.
Sean Quitevis added 11 markers, while rookie Mason Amos contributed 10 points for the Blue Eagles, which will face no. 1 seed University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the semifinals on Saturday.
Brown and Amos almost outscored the entire Falcons squad in the first half, with 14 and eight points, respectively on a combined six triples to boost the Blue Eagles to a 40-26 lead at the half.
In the third period, the Blue Eagles did not allow the Falcons to pull off a comeback, providing all the answers to increase its advantage to 17 heading into the fourth quarter at 56-39.
The Blue Eagles continued their rampage in the fourth quarter with six straight points off Kai Ballungay, Quitevis, and Joseph Obasa for a 62-39 cushion with 6:18 remaining in the game.
“I guess probably in the scoreboard it didn’t look like a tough game but it was a very tough game. It’s always is with Adamson and I think that’s reflective probably on the low score,” said Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin.
Matty Erolon led the way with nine points, Didat Hanapi chipped in eight points and four rebounds, while Jed Colonia and Vince Magbuhos, who played their final game for Adamson, combined for three points.
Jerom Lastimosa, who was sidelined due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, was fielded in the game twice in the game and finished with a three-pointer in the final seconds of the contest./PN
BOX SCORE:
ATENEO 70 – Brown 20, Quitevis 11, Amos 10, Ballungay 7, Bongo 4, Obasa 4, Koon 3, Nieto 3, Credo 3, Espinosa 3, Lazaro 2, Chiu 0, Gamber 0, Tuano 0.
ADAMSON 48 – Erolon 9, Hanapi 8, Calisay 5, Manzano 4, Yerro 4, Montebon 4, Sabandal 4, Magbuhos 3, Lastimosa 3, Barasi 2, Ramos 2, Colonia 0, Ojarikre 0, Cañete 0, Barcelona 0, Anabo 0.
Quarterscores: 24-15, 40-25, 56-39, 70-48.
