UAAP: Blue Eagles deliver win #100 for Coach Black

(Updated 7:41pm) Norman Black earned his 100th win as head coach of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles as his team crushed the University of the East Red Warriors, 68-51, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, in the 75th season of the UAAP. "It just means I've been around for a long time," said Black, who has been coaching Ateneo for the past eight years, amassing a 100-25 win-loss record in the process. For the second game in the row, the Eagles used a pivotal third quarter to bury their opponents. After leading by only three at halftime, Ateneo held the Warriors to only 17 points on four field goals in the second half, allowing just five points from their foes in the third period. Black wasn't completely satisfied, however, as he said he preferred his team got off to good starts. "We didn't play solid in the first half," he said. "We didn't get enough rebounds or look for each other on offense. But we talked about it at halftime and we began to play better as a team." Big man Greg Slaughter racked up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Kiefer Ravena added 12 points and five assists, while reserve guard Tonino Gonzaga contributed nine points and five rebounds. Due to the lopsided nature the game eventually took on, none of the Eagles played more than 24 minutes in the game. JR Sumido scored UE's first five en route to a 7-2 advantage for the Warriors. However, Ateneo quickly awoke, announcing their arrival with a 10-0 run, capped by an alley-oop slam by Slaughter. UE quietly countered though with an 8-3 stretch to knot the game at 15-all, on a long jumper by Bong Galanza. Tonino Gonzaga drained a three-ball from the left baseline to put some distance between Ateneo and UE, only for Ivan Hernandez to score UE's last three, against against a split at the line from Justin Chua. That kept the Warriors within a point, 19-18. Chris Javier and Galanza briefly put the Warriors on top, 25-23, after combining for a 7-4 run, but on the other end, Ateneo went inside-out with the duo of Slaughter and Juami Tiongson, and the pair scored 10 of the Eagles' next 12. The Warriors kept pace, showing aggressiveness on the boards to get multiple attempts at the basket. Javier and Roi Sumang kept pace for the Warriors, bringing the tally to 35-31. Galanza banged home UE's second three-pointer of the game with under a minute to play, but Ateneo had the last say as Kiefer Ravena drained two tries from the stripe to carry a 37-34 lead into halftime. UE forced Ateneo to give up the ball when play resumed, but the Warriors failed to capitalize on the opportunities. Still, they came within a point, 38-37. Falling into early foul trouble, the Warriors' five gave up an 8-0 run to Ateneo, courtesy of Slaughter, Salva and Ravena. A floater by Gene Belleza quenched a five-minute drought from the field by the Warriors, except the relief was brief, as Ateneo closed the quarter with eight unanswered points, capped by a put-back by JP Erram that gave the Blue and White a 54-39 margin going into the final period. In the fourth quarter, Black fielded a line-up of reserves consisting of Erram, Ryan Buenafe, Nico Elorde, Tonino Gonzaga and Frank Golla. The second unit racked up points for the Eagles, scoring directly in transition or on the secondary break in a 10-2 run, widening the gap to 64-41 with under six minutes to play. The Warriors got their first field goal of the quarter at the 4:36 mark, on an and-one play by Javier, but the damage had been done. UE went on an 11-2 run capped by Galanza's second three-point basket, but reserves Gwyne Capacio and Von Pessumal put the finishing touches on the game with baskets of their own. Ateneo outrebounded the Warriors, 55-47, which led to a 10-4 margin in second chance points. UE gave up 24 fouls to Ateneo's 15, giving the Eagles a 19-for-29 advantage from the line, compared to UE's 11-of-19 clip. Chris Javier led all scorers with 16 points. Bong Galanza added 12 points and six boards, while UE's standout floor general, Roi Sumang, was limited to 10 points and five assists on 3 for 12 shooting. The win boosted Ateneo's record to 5-1, best in the league, setting the stage for a rematch against the FEU Tamaraws, their opponents in the last two UAAP FInals, on August 12. UE on the other hand remained winless in four outings, and will face UST on August 8. - AMD, GMA News The scores: ADMU 68: Slaughter 14, Ravena 12, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 7, Salva 7, Buenafe 6, Sumalinog 2, Pessumal 2, Golla 2, Erram 2, Elorde 2, Capacio 2, Chua 1, Porter 0, Lim 0, Babilonia 0 UE 50: Javier 16, Galanza 12, Sumang 10, Hernandez 6, Sumido 5, Belleze 2, Alberto 0, Villarias 0 Valdez 0, Santos 0, Razon 0, Olayon 0, Mena 0, Flores 0, Duran 0, Duncil 0 Quarter scores: 19-18, 37-34, 54-39, 68-50