Eagles nip Warriors for title
Chris Tiu, doing what he does best, nailed a jumper in the closing seconds as Ateneo pulled off a gripping come-from-behind 65-64 victory over University of the East yesterday to capture the Nike Summer League crown at the Philsports Arena.
Shackled all game long, Tiu used the screens to squeeze himself out of a defensive jam and fired that marginal basket on the top of the key with 26.8 seconds remaining. Then the Eagles watched the Warriors bungle two shots to preserve the lead and the victory worth P200,000 of Nike products.
“That play was really for him and we executed it well,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black, referring to his sweet-shooting guard who has had a number of game-winners for Ateneo in the UAAP.
“We played it as was diagrammed by coach. They gave me screens and I got my shot and it felt good when I released it,” said Tiu.
Defense also proved crucial for the Katipunan-based squad as it scuttled UE’s vaunted fast-paced running game in the second half.
The Warriors, coming off a big victory over the San Beda Red Lions in the final of the Filoil Flying V Pre-season Invitational Saturday, actually had two chances to steal the win in a game they dominated in the first three quarters.
But Hans Thiele, hobbled by foul trouble all game, missed a wide-open lay-up and Paul Lee, who exploded with 24 points, including five triples against San Beda, threw an air ball from 12 feet as the Eagles escaped with the win.
“We played tremendous defense particularly in the fourth quarter,” said Black.
Rabeh Al-Hussaini powered his way to 18 points, hauled down 10 rebounds, and made two assists and a shot block.
It was the second straight game that Tiu and Al-Hussaini came up big after they sizzled with 20 and 17 points, respectively, in Ateneo’s 70-60 win over arch rival and defending UAAP champion
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