Ateneo Blue Eagles blast wavering Falcons, 81-68

The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles improved their chances of getting a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four after defeating a gutsy Adamson Soaring Falcons squad, 81-68, in the first Saturday game of the 70th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. The victory improved Ateneo’s win-loss record to 7-4, only a game behind arch-rival De La Salle, which has an 8-3 card. Adamson further slid in the rankings with a 1-10 card. Center Nonoy Baclao was named best player for scoring a career-high 14 points, seven rebounds, and three block’s for his team. Ford Arao also contributed well for the Blue Eagles with his 13 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a block. Chris Tiu, who was a disappointment in the field goal department all game long, still managed to score 14 points, mostly from the free-throw line. Adamson suddenly came alive in the fourth period to cut Ateneo’s once insurmountable 15-point lead to just seven points at 67-60 after a basket by main man Patrick Cabahug with still less than three minutes left in the fourth. However, Arao answered back with a jump hook shot during their offensive play. He was fouled and converted his free throw to give them a 10-point lead, 70-60. After another basket by Cabahug, Ateneo’s Nonoy Baclao and point-guard Jai Reyes converted on a jump shot and two free throws, respectively to push Ateneo’s lead to 12 points, 74-62, with 1:47 left in the game. Adamson again responded with another basket off their offensive end, but Baclao again was there for a lay-up to give Ateneo a comfortable 76-64 lead going to the 1:15 mark of the fourth. Ateneo hung on from there to put the score at 81-68. Ateneo led at halftime with a score of 43-29 after shooting 13 of 32 from the field compared to Adamson’s 12 of 27. But what killed Adamson in the first half was the free throw department, wherein they only shot 2 of 6 from there compared to Ateneo’s 19 out of 26 due to the 17 fouls they committed. Chris Tiu failed to hit the mark in the first half as he went scoreless, but Arao was there to pick up the scoring slack with his 10 points. Adamson guard Leo Canuday led his team in scoring with 11 points. Quarter scores: 25-10, 43-29, 58-47, 81-68

- GMANews.TV