Ateneo routs FEU, makes 5th straight UAAP Finals appearance (Sabong News)

Ateneo used a strong second quarter surge to cruise past Far Eastern University, 85-72, and barge into the Finals of the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Wednesday night, May 4. The Blue Eagles came in blazing hot in the second frame before stepping on the gas in the next half to lead by as many as 20 points heading into the payoff period. The Tamaraws attempted a late comeback in the last quarter but the gap was too much to overcome despite the efforts of RJ Abarrientos and Emman Ojuola. Matthew Daves and Dave Ildefonso provided a late spark for Ateneo before SJ Belangel fired a dagger triple with still plenty of three minutes to go to rebuild another 18-point lead, 82-64, as the reigning champion made its fifth straight UAAP Finals appearance since Season 79. Ateneo bounced back from its historic 84-83 loss at the hands of University of the Philippines last May 1 and would have to wait the winner between the Fighting Maroons and the De La Salle Green Archers on Friday, May 6. “We honestly put those things behind us. We talked a little about it of course because it was kind of historic on a negative side of things but there was a tremendous amount of positive history before that and we prefer to focus on those things,” said Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin. “We put it behind us because FEU is the only game that matters,” he added. BJ Andrade led the Eagles’ balanced attack with 16 points on a 7-of-9 shooting and a perfect 5-of-5 clip from the two-point range along with three rebounds. Belangel, despite struggling from the field on a dismal 5-of-14 shooting, made up for Ateneo with 14 points and three rebounds, Gian Mamuyac scored 12 points to go with four rebounds, while Ildefonso had 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Ange Kouame had another monstrous performance of nine points, 18 points, eight assists and five blocks while Daves scored all of his nine points in the fourth period on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting. Kouame, Ildefonso, and Daves did not commit any turnovers. Abarrientos paced the Tamaraws with 16 points and five rebounds, Ojuola grabbed 13 points and 14 rebounds, while Brandrey Bienes chipped in 13 points and three rebounds. — Andrade 16, Belangel 14, Mamuyac 12, Ildefonso 11, Kouame 9, Daves 9, Lazaro 4, Verano 3, Koon 3, Chiu 2, Tio 2, Padrigao 0. — Abarrientos 16, Ojuola 13, Bienes 13, Gonzales 9, Sleat 6, Alforque 5, Tempra 4, Torres 3, Celzo 2, Sajonia 1, Coquia 0. 16-16, 49-33, 65-48, 85-72.