Kai Ballungay, Dave Ildefonso lead Ateneo comeback vs NCCU to go 2-0 in Japan tourney

Kai Ballungay and Dave Ildefonso led Ateneo de Manila University's fourth quarter rally as they stunned National Chengchi University of Chinese Taipei, 88-78, to remain undefeated in the World University Basketball Series in Japan on Wednesday.

Ateneo improved to 2-0 in the pocket tournament following a huge 125-39 win over UPH yesterday while NCCU dropped to 0-2.

The Blue Eagles trailed by as many as 11 points at one point in the game but an alley-oop basket from Ballungay brought Ateneo to within one, 68-67, before foreign student-athlete Joseph Obasa gave them the lead, 69-68.

Ildefonso then sank a triple from the wing to make it a 75-71 affair before a corner trey from Ballungay for a 80-76 spread with barely two minutes left in the game. The UAAP Season 84 runner-up then ignited for an 8-2 closing run to seal the deal.

Ballungay finished with 20 points for the Blue Eagles.

Ateneo was also behind by four points at the half, 44-39, after only converting 43 percent from the two-point field and 30 percent from the three-point clip.

Ateneo will next face home team Tokai University in bid to rule the short tournament.

—JMB, GMA News