UAAP: Eagles limit Parks to season low en route to victory

(Updated 8:00pm) The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles strengthened their hold of the top seed by defeating the National University Bulldogs, 70-56, in the second round eliminations of UAAP Season 75, Thursday, at the Philsports Arena.   With an 11-2 record, Ateneo currently sits atop the elimination standings. Meanwhile, NU missed its chance to get its foot in the door and fell to 7-5, tied for fourth place with De La Salle University.   "We went into the game knowing we were one of the top 2 teams offensively," said Ateneo coach Norman Black. "Something had to give. We were able to put them away in the third quarter, and credit goes to players for listening to staff and following instructions."   Black said he was pleased with his team's defensive performance in the second half, evidenced by the fact that NU averages 73 points per game.   Greg Slaughter led the Eagles with 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Kiefer Ravena and Nico Salva each tallied 14 points and combined for eight rebounds. It was a physical matchup early on as Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva combined for an 8-4 lead for the Blue Eagles. But Emmanuel Mbe brought the Bulldogs closer, scoring their first nine, including a breakaway slam, to give NU a one-point lead.   It was only at the four minute mark that another Bulldog scored, as Glenn Khobuntin knocked down a jumper. The Eagles, on the other hand, got help from their perimeter players as Kiefer Ravena and Nico Elorde converted from the field. A last-ditch layup by Jeoff Javillonar gave NU a one-point advantage, 17-16, after one.   Javillonar extended his run into the second quarter, teaming up with Mark De Guzman to give NU a 26-22 lead. But the Bulldogs could not gain separation as Ateneo responded with a 7-3 run, backed by three from Kiefer Ravena, to knot the score at 29 apiece.   Mbe drained four straight from the line to keep the Bulldogs on top, 33-31, at halftime. The Cameroonian center finished the first half with 15 points.   The Bulldogs were cold in the second half, despite multiple offensive boards, while the Eagles leaked out for fastbreaks, as Slaughter scored twice on the block for an 8-1 run to put Ateneo in front, 39-34.   Gelo Alolino drained a jumper with six minutes remaining for NU's first field goal of the quarter. However, multiple turnovers denied them a chance to regain control of the game. On the other end, Slaughter, Salva and Ravena took turns cruising to the rim.   With under three minutes to play, Ryan Buenafe dialed in a three from the right wing to give Ateneo their biggest lead, 50-40. Javillonar got to the line with under two minutes remaining to knock down two from the free throw line, but Nico Elorde and Ravena knocked down back-to-back three pointers for the blue and white.   Save for a last-second triple by Javillonar that was upheld after a review, the Bulldogs did not score from the field in the last 3:50 of the third quarter to trail, 56-45, heading to the final period.   NU began the fourth with aggressive moves to the rim, but it only netted them a 1 for 4 mark from the charity stripe. Javillonar finally got a layup to cut the lead to single digits anew. Unfazed, Ateneo went to its frontcourt, as Slaughter and Salva burned their defenders for eight straight points.   Mbe interrupted the run, scoring the Bulldogs' second field goal at 4:59, but Slaughter scored twice to erect a 68-50 advantage for Ateneo with under four minutes to play.   Bobby Ray Parks came alive in the final three minutes with three straight baskets, but it did little to deter the outcome of the game. Ravena chipped in a bucket with a minute to play to settle the score.   Emmanuel Mbe led NU with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Jeoff Javillonar scored 15 points in 17 quality minutes for NU. Bobby Ray Parks barely tallied double digits, scoring only 11 on 5 for 17 shooting. Parks also caromed eight rebounds.   "We didn't go into the game trying to limit [Parks]," said Black. "He's the league's leading scorer, but it just happened that way. Whenever he got the ball in iso, we sent help to Kiefer, and our rotation out of that help defense was good as well."   Ateneo lost the battle on the boards, 37-26, to NU. But the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize on the extra possessions, shooting 22 for 60, or 36.7 percent, compared to Ateneo's 33 of 58, or 56.9 percent.   The Eagles also forced more turnovers, 23-16, and made a living off them with a 29-15 margin in turnover points.   Interestingly, Ateneo only headed to the line once in the entire game- a split by Kiefer Ravena.   In the first round, the Eagles drubbed the Bulldogs, 89-75. - RAF, GMA News   The scores:   ADMU 70: Slaughter 22, Salva 14, Ravena 14, Tiongson 6, Elorde 5, Buenafe 3, Sumalinog 2, Golla 2, Chua 2, Pessumal 0, Gonzaga 0   NU 56: Mbe 19, Javillonar 15, Parks 11, De Guzman 5, Rosario 2, Khobuntin 2, Alolino 2, Villamor 0, Rono 0, Betayene 0     Quarter scores: 16-17, 31-33, 56-46, 70-56