Ateneo defeats UST with 32-point win

The Ateneo Blue Eagles extended its winning streak to four after demolishing the UST Growling Tigers in a 32-point win, 85-53, on Saturday afternoon at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Eagles relied on a hot start, limiting UST to only 18 points against Ateneo's 37 to end the first period. The boys from Katipunan continued to swoop down the Tigers during the second half, making 24 points per quarter against UST's 17 and 18.

"It was a very good effort for our team. I guess you all know that Raffy [Verano] wasn't able to play. It was very important for our bigs to step up, next man up for us," Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga said.

"We always want to say that it's not the end result,  but how we played, that's what we're stressing. It doesn't mater 'yung score, we always want to be consistent with our effort... That's something that Coach Tab really stresses to our players that we've got to be true to our word when we gotta say we gotta give it our best," he added.

Angelo Kouame led the Katipunan-based squad with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

On the other hand, the Tigers were led by Henri Subido with 19 points, followed by rookie CJ Cansino with 15 points.

The Blue Eagles will next play rivals DLSU Green Archers on Saturday and he expects that it will be a highly emotional game.

"Of course, it's an Ateneo-La Salle game so it's gonna be exciting, there's gonna be a lot of energy from both teams. The important thing coming into the game is we've got to be ready, we've got to prepare well, just like any other game, but at the same time, we cannot pretend that this is just like any other game," Arespacochaga said.

"We got to manage our emotions, not too high, not too low because for sure, our opponent will also come out stronger," he added.

Ateneo now ranks second in the standings with four wins and a loss while the Tigers have a 1-3 record.

Scores:

Ateneo (85) - Kouame - 20, Ravena - 11, Go - 8, Asistio - 8, Belangel - 7, Nieto, Mike - 6, Nieto, Matt - 5, Daves - 4, Tio - 4, Wong - 3, Andrade - 3, Navarro - 2, Black - 2, Mamuyac - 2, Mendoza - 0.

UST (53) - Subido - 19, Cansino - 15, Akomo - 9, Huang - 6, Lee - 2, Mahinay - 2, Consejo - 0, Marcos - 0, Zamora - 0, Bataller - 0, Lagumen - 0, Agustin - 0.

— MDM, GMA News