Eagles rip Falcons, stretch streak

Games today (Filoil Flying V Center)

12 noon – UST vs FEU

4 p.m. – DLSU vs UP

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo kickstarted its second-round campaign in the same fashion it opened UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball hostilities last month – with a convincing triumph over contender Adamson.

Flexing its defensive muscle and getting significant contribution from just about everybody, the Blue Eagles romped off with a 71-59 verdict over the Falcons to soar to their eighth consecutive triumph yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Eagles, the league’s top defensive team, held the Falcons to their season-low in points (59), three-point field goal (1-of-18), assist (five), fastbreak points (four) and points off turnovers (seven) to duplicate their 85-65 rout last Sept. 9.

“It was a defensive game and I think the 23 points we scored in the third quarter was pivotal, it gave us that cushion we needed,” said AdMU assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga after his team stretched its streak while snapping the four-game run of Adamson (5-3).

The Ateneans limited AdU to 34.85 percent clip overall, choking their vaunted three-point shooters to measly 5.56 percent marksmanship.

Thirdy Ravena was the lone AdMU scorer in double figures with 15 but 12 other players chipped in at least two. Vince Tolentino and Isaac Go shot eight apiece while Chibueze Ikeh and Aaron Black each had seven points and as many rebounds to join another balanced attack.

Papi Sarr, who missed their first duel due to injury led AdU with 15 and 9.

Earlier, University of the East showed it’s not a purely Alvin Pasaol team as its shock troopers took the cudgels in a huge 90-77 upset over National U.

As Pasaol rode the bench due to foul trouble, the foursome of Mark Olayon, Wilson Bartolome, Mark Maloles and Nick Abanto delivered the big buckets and defensive stops in the payoff period to lead the Warriors to their second straight win after a 0-6 start.

The scores:

First Game

UE 90 – Olayon 17, Bartolome 14, Maloles 13, Abanto 13, Pasaol 11, Manalang 7, Cullar 6, Derige 3, Conner 2, Acuno 2, Varilla 2.

NU 77 – Gaye 20, Alejandro 16, Bartlett 8, Mosqueda 7, Salem 7, Yu 5, Joson 4, Lastimosa 4, Morido 3, Aquino 3, Diputado 0, Abatayo 0, Cauilan 0, Rangel 0, Tibayan 0.

Quarterscores: 21-15, 45-36, 62-59, 90-77

Second Game

AdMU 71 – Ravena 15, Go 8, Tolentino 8, Black 7, Ikeh 7, Mi. Nieto 6, Asistio 4, Andrade 3, Mendoza 3, Tio 3, Verano 3, Ma. Nieto 2, Porter 2, Mallilin 0, Mamuyac 0, White 0.

AdU 59 – Sarr 15, Pingoy 9, Hill 6, Ahanmisi 6, Mustre 5, Espeleta 5, Manganti 4, Ochea 2, Camacho 2, Zaldivar 2, Lojera 2, Manalang 1, Paranada 0, Chua 0, Bernardo 0.

Quarterscores: 16-10, 31-24, 54-41, 71-59