Ateneo wrests solo lead in Jumbo Cup

Game today (Enderun Colleges gym, Taguig City)

9:30 a.m. – UP vs Ateneo

Games tomorrow (Enderun Colleges gym, Taguig City)

9:30 a.m. – HCHS vs Adamson

11 a.m. – CKSC vs UPHSD

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo fended off Far Eastern University’s fightback as it hacked out a 69-64 win to wrest the solo lead in the first Jumbo Plastic Linoleum Cup 2014 at the Philippine Buddhacare gym in Quezon City Thursday.

Without key players Jolo Mendoza and twin brothers Matt and Mike Nieto, the Eaglets leaned on Brix Ramos and Sean Ildefonso – son of two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso – to notch their third straight win in the tournament presented by Jumbo Plastic Linoleum.

Ramos hit 12 points and snared five rebounds while Ildefonso scored 10 points and hauled down seven rebounds as the Eaglets stayed undefeated in the preseason event sponsored by Smart Telecommunications, K-tech Sports, Inc., Powerbest Marketing, CW Home Depot, Powerhouse and Dickies Underwear.

The Eaglets appeared headed for a runaway win when they took a 41-25 lead at halftime. But Rob Aquino and Ricky Peromingan sparked FEU’s comeback that saw them close in at 53-46 going into the final 10 minutes.

Mendoza and the Nieto brothers are still resting after playing for the Philippine Under-17 team in the recent FIBA World Championship in Dubai.

In other games, Hope Christian High School bounced back from a stunning defeat to University of the Philippines by downing University of Perpetual Help, 73-68, while Chiang Kai Shek College outlasted UP, 103-99.

With their wins, Hope Christian and Chiang Kai Shek College improved to 2-1, while UP slipped to 1-2. Perpetual is still winless in three games.

UP’s Juan de Liano Gomez, who exploded for 34 points in the team’s 96-82 win over Hope Christia, was held to just 14 points this time on 3-of-12 shooting.

Van Pilanga led CKSC with 31 points highlighted by four triples while Moh Ascano and Jonas Tibayan added 19 and 15 points, respectively.