Blue Eagles shoot down Warriors

Patience is a virtue. The Ateneo Blue Eagles showed just that as they came back from a 17 point first half deficit and still win by 15 points against the University of the East Red Warriors. The Diesel powerered Ateneo Blue Eagles eventually heated up and gained enough composure to catch up on the Warriors to eke out a 72-57 win. This gives the Blue Eagles a 2-0 win loss slate that ties them with the UST Growling Tigers as they become the early leaders in the 72^nd Season of the UAAP. Rabah Al-Husaini stood the tallest amongst everyone as he together with Eric Salamat and Nonoy Baclao bore the brunt of the Blue Eagles offense in the wake of a fiery start by the Red Warriors that threatened to upset the boys in blue.

In the UAAP, the translation of the word Rabah is he who has superior inside game. Al-Husaini showed why he is the reigning MVP as he scattered 27 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked 2 shots to stamp his class against the overmatched UE Red Warriors. The Red Warriors started hot in the first quarter courtesy of Val Acuna who sank three three pointers that gave the Recto based dribblers a 23-11 first quarter lead. At the start of the 2^nd quarter the lead would balloon to 28-11 before the Blue Eagles made a crippling comeback as they dropped a 24-9 bomb to end the half and was only down with a solitary basket 37-35.

The third and fourth quarter showed the merciless Blue Eagles defense that forced the Warriors into turnovers. Unfortunately for them, the league MVP suddenly went to work as he scored 19 second half points, only 1 pt shy of the Warriors second half output. Rabah toyed with the UE defense as he showed a variety of moves like spin move, jump hook and 15 footers that gave his defenders headaches. Nonoy Baclao came to life in the offense to complement his good defensive job and so did Eric Salamat and NIco Salva. With a six point lead at the start of the 4th quarter, the Eagles began to wax hot as Eman Monfort and Bacon Austria sank consecutive three pointers to give the Eagles a 12 point lead, after that the boys in blue never looked back. Ryan Buenafe and Kirk Long went scoreless, Jai Reyes was not hitting his usual booming threes but these three veterans have adjusted well by feeding their other team mates and at times for Buenafe, he looked to drive and pass. His daredevil drives were checked well by the Warriors as three players ganged up on him on every drive which resulted in a forced shot. But who cares, we got the win!

The scores:

Ateneo 72 – Al Hussaini 27, Salamat 12, Baclao 10, Reyes 7, Salva 6, Monfort 3, Austria 3, Gonzaga 2, Chua 2, Tiongson 0, Long 0, Buenafe 0.

UE 57 – Acuña 21, Lee 14, Reyes 7, Llagas 6, Espiritu 6, Zamar 3, Lingganay 0, Flores 0, Ayala 0, Alabanza 0.

Quarter scoring: 11-23, 35-37, 54-48, 72-57