UAAP: Comeback falls short as UE defeats Ateneo

(Updated 4:17pm) The University of the East Red Warriors sent the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles crashing back down to earth, 72-68, in the first round of the UAAP Season 76 men's basketball tournament, Wednesday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

[Review the play-by-play of this game here]

The Warriors broke out of a two-game slump, 2-3, to take a solo sixth spot in the rankings, while dealing the seventh-place Eagles their fourth loss in five games.

Juami Tiongson led a three-point barrage for the Eagles in the third quarter, nailing four to help his team overcome a 15-point deficit and tying the game at 54-54 entering the fourth. The Eagles then led for the first time halfway through the final frame after back-to-back makes by Kiefer Ravena.

However, the Warriors regained control down the stretch as they took advantage of Ateneo's penalty situation, and huge plays by Roi Sumang and Charles Mammie allowed them to control the game down the stretch.

Charles Mammie carried UE after sitting out a one-game suspension with 20 points and 23 rebounds, tying UST alum Jervy Cruz for most rebounds in a game since 2003. Roi Sumang and Dan Alberto poured in 14 points each.

"They cannot be five-time champions for nothing and we have to learn from this game," said UE head coach Boysie Zamar of his side's opponents. He also praised his team's mental toughness for keeping them in this match. "The problem with my team is they have egos. So when humabol ang Ateneo na-deflate yung egos nila, and they woke up at the right time."

Zamar also credited Lord Casajeros for stepping up defensively, and Sumang for playing with a hurt left arm during the final period. "Hindi ko na siya inisip nun eh, I took him out of my rotation already. But he came up to me and slapped by back and said, 'Coach ready na ako,'" he said.

The Eagles' defense looked out of sync early on, and UE pounced on them in the first quarter. Ateneo couldn't find a groove on offense either, as they looked hesitant in the halfcourt and survived on a Nico Elorde trey and a breakaway layup by Ryan Buenafe. Meanwhile, six different Warriors scored at the rim to seize a 14-9 lead.

Ateneo looked to right their ship in the last two and a half minutes, as Poy Erram's presence pulled them within two, but Roi Sumang drilled a trey at the 50-second mark, warding the Eagles off to maintain an 18-12 lead after the first quarter.

The Warriors began to slip in the second quarter as Ateneo began to find seams in the defense. UE gave up triples to Juami Tiongson and Von Pessumal, as the latter scored seven of their first 10 points to trim the lead, 25-22.

But before the Eagles could overtake them, Dan Alberto answered the call for the Warriors. The seldom-used guard benefited from Ateneo's turnovers and shaky perimeter defense to lead an 8-3 counterattack with three minutes to play. Chris Newsome and Buenafe cut the lead to three anew after the latter nailed a floater with a minute left, but Alberto replied with his second trey of the game on their next play, ensuring a 37-31 lead for UE at the half.

The Eagles shot 13-of-24 (38.2 percent), including 4-of-11 from downtown during the first half, while UE were 15-of-38 (39.5 percent) including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. The Warriors also led the rebounding battle early, 22-20, with Mammie collecting 12.


UE piled on the points after the break, scoring nine straight to lead by 15, 46-31, after Alberto made two freebies, following a Ravena foul on a triple attempt. Tiongson pulled the Eagles out of that hole though, drilling three triples in a 13-2 barrage, 48-44.

The Warriors recovered as Lord Casajeros, Sumang and Mammie asserted themselves beneath the rim, but the Eagles' downtown barrage wasn't over. Ateneo converted from deep twice more, courtesy of Tiongson and Pessumal, to tie the game at 54-apiece after three quarters.

Sumang missed a few minutes of action early in the fourth period after hurting his left hand. The Warriors stood their ground until his return at around the seven minute mark, hitting a jumper for a two-point lead, 60-58. But Kiefer Ravena turned the tide for the Eagles, nailing a trey to give Ateneo their first lead of the game, and then swiping the ball from Mammie and finishing on the other end, 63-60, with four minutes to play.

UE forced their way into the penalty situation a few moments later, and went 4-of-6 from the line to take a 66-63 lead. But Ateneo recovered, finding their halfcourt flow to locate Tiongson for a drive and Frank Golla for a long two, leading 67-66 with a minute and a half remaining.

After a quick Warriors timeout, Noble took advantage on a pick and roll to push UE ahead, forcing the Eagles to take a timeout of their own. But Tiongson was whistled for an offensive foul, giving Sumang a chance to blow by his man for another two points at the rim, 70-67.

Ravena was fouled on the next play and split from the line with 42 ticks remaining. Mammie looked to put the finishing touches for UE, drawing contact on a put-back attempt and making both charities with 17 ticks left, 72-68.

Ateneo took their final timeout and tried to score from deep. Ravena and Newsome combined for three attempts, but none of them fell through, as UE escaped with their second win of the season.

UE converted 27-of-73 (37 percent) attempts from the floor, including 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from deep, versus Ateneo's 27-of-74 (36.5 percent) mark, including 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) from downtown.

The Warriors also controlled the boards, 51-42, and turnover points, 21-16. They also went 14-of-25 (56 percent) on free throws, while Ateneo was a mere 4-of-6 (66.7 percent).

Juami Tiongson had a team-high 17 points, including making 5-of-7 three-pointers. Von Pessumal added 12 points. Kiefer Ravena and Chris Newsome added 10 and 11 points respectively and combined for a 7-of-20 clip from the field. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

UE 72: Mammie 20, Sumang 14, Alberto 14, Casajeros 8, Noble 7, Olivares 5, Santos 2, Javier 2, Olayon 0, Sumido 0, Jumao-as 0, Hernandez 0, Guion 0

ADMU 68: Tiongson 17, Pessumal 12, Ravena 11, Newsome 10, Elorde 5, Golla 4, Buenafe 4, Erram 3, Asunscion 2, Tolentino 0, Lim 0, Enriquez 0, Capacio 0

Quarter-scoring: 18-12, 37-31, 54-54, 72-68