FilOil: Ravena, Pessumal lead Ateneo over EAC to remain unbeaten

The Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles remain undefeated in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup, rolling past the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 80-67, Friday, at the FilOil Flying V Arena.

The Generals rallied in the third quarter to trail by a point heading into the fourth period, 51-50. Von Pessumal then came to Ateneo's rescue with consecutive triples to begin the final quarter, scoring 11 points in the payoff period to help his team pull away with their third win in the tournament.

"In the second half, we really played Ateneo basketball," said Pessumal. "Fortunately, I just knocked down my shots [because] my teammates found me."

"Our team is stepping up to some of the aspects we're not good at right now," said Ateneo head coach Bo Perasol, though he maintained that his team's cohesiveness was far from where he wants it to be. "They have the mentality to win every time and we were able to close out the game in the end."

Kiefer Ravena led all scorers with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists. Pessumal had 16 points and eight rebounds. Juami Tiongson offered 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Chris Newsome had seven points, six rebounds and five assists.

The Eagles spoiled the Generals' debut in Group B play while remaining undefeated, sporting a 3-0 card.

Ateneo swooped down on the Generals in the first quarter, as a Juami Tiongson triple boosted a 7-0 run. Ateneo's pesky defense forced EAC into miscues on offense, including a 24-second violation.

But the cracks began to show as EAC scored all but three of their points at, or around the rim, as the Generals cut to the basket for lay-ups. Igee King cruised to the hole for six points, including a transition bucket with under a minute to play, to slice their deficit to three, 16-13, but Kiefer Ravena quickly stole an and-one play on the other end, helping Ateneo to a 21-13 lead after the first period.

Jan Jamon and John Tayontong made consecutive buckets for the Generals in the second quarter, forcing Ateneo's coach Perasol to sub Ravena back in the game, after just three minutes of rest, to carry the Ateneo offense. The Eagles got some chances in transition but found the Generals still breathing down their necks, 24-21, on a baseline look by Jeff Mallari.

Both teams played tit-for-tat until Ravena got another and-one with three and a half minutes to play, giving his Blue Eagles some breathing room. The Eagles found scoring opportunities early in the clock to finish with a 38-32 lead after two quarters.

Ateneo shot 14-of-30 (47 percent) after two periods against EAC's 15-of-36 clip[ (42 percent). Though they were tied at eight turnover points each, the Eagles had already committed 15 turnovers against the Generals' nine.


When play resumed, the Eagles closed up the Generals' driving lanes while pushing the pace on offense, gaining separation on Chris Newsome charities off an alley-oop try, 47-37.

The Generals gave the Eagles a dose of their own medicine, as Tayongtong and Munsayac made moves to the rim to produce a 10-2 run. King was fouled by Vince Tolentino away from the ball with about a minute to play and split from the line as EAC trailed by just one, 49-48. The rookie forward made amends however, and converted a 16-footer on the next play, but a Munsayac jumper ensured the Generals were armed with a 51-50 tally heading into the final period.

Von Pessumal then put down the Generals for good in the fourth quarter, as the third-year guard rifled in back-to-back triples to score nine of Ateneo's first 10 points in the period. During a transition play, Onwubere was called for an unsportsmanlike foul for tripping Newsome, resulting in a technical free throw for the latter, adding to a 61-52 Eagles lead.

EAC went for broke and matched Ateneo in a shoot-out, but their inability to contain the Eagle's quick offense cost them time, as Tolentino made charities off a drive-and-dish play, 69-58. Buoyed by Tiongson's third three-pointer of the game, Ateneo cruised to the finish line with a lead no less than six points for the rest of the way.

Ravena said the team's growth process has been rough, but that the situation has been better as of late. "We have to really give ourselves quality minutes para makalayo kami. This is probably the only game we've won in double digits the whole summer, but we'll take it," he said.

Perasol and Ravena added that the true test of how far their team has come will be against the UST Growling Tigers, UAAP runners-up last season, and the team that beat them in the Finals of the PCCL. "We have to set our minds on beating UST," said Ravena, adding that a victory against their Season 75 Finals foes was one of their goals this summer.

Ateneo finished with a 27-of-67 clip from the field (40 percent), while EAC shot 26-of-67 (39 percent). The undersized Eagles even managed to lead in rebounding, 35-28, with Ravena, Pessumal, Tiongson, Newsome, Tolentino and Golla snaring at least six boards each.

Pessumal and Tiongson combined for 6-of-13 as Ateneo made 7-of-19 from beyond the arc (37 percent). In contrast, the Generals were 3-of-19 (16 percent).

Igee King and John Tayongtong each had 13 points and five rebounds for the Generals. Francis Munsayac added 11 points and five assists, while Gigi Manga Hiole had 10 points and seven rebounds. - RAF, GMA News

 

The scores:

 

ADMU 80: Ravena 18, Pessumal 16, Tiongson 15, Newsome 7, Elorde 6, Tolentino 4, Golla 4, Lim 4, Assistio 4, Murphy 2, Babilonia 0

 

EAC 67: King 13, Tayongtong 13, Munsayac 11, Manga Hiole 10, Jamon 7, Arquero 6, Mallari 4, Monteclaro 3, Onwubere 0, Castro 0

Quater scores: 21-13, 38-32, 51-50, 80-67