The Ateneo Blue Eagles is just an ordinary team without Rabah Al-Husaini. This was evidenced by their overtime win last week when the reigning MVP went out of the game with still six minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Blue Eagles struggled to win the game. But with the Ateneo’s Big Ticket finally aggressive offensively, there was no stopping the Blue Eagles from being the top team in the UAAP as the Ateneo Blue Eagles gave the De La Salle Green Archers a major beating with an 81-65 win over their arch rivals.
Rabah Al-Husaini, Eric Salamat, Nico Salva, Nonoy Baclao and Kirk Long all complemented each other’s games. Ryan Buenafe for one was out dishing out great assists to his team mates. Eric for one even had 8 assists and a lot were to Rabeh Al-Husaini who showed up offensively again with 26 points. The Blue Eagles for one finally started strong as they scored 8 straight points with Rabah showing the way. DLSU’s Joshua Webb was a marked man and was sent to the bench after he got two early fouls. Webb was instrumental in DLSU’s onslaught last week against the team in Blue. Former San Sebastian Staglets Arvie Bringas and Yutien Andrada were both offensive busts as the Ateneo defense did not give them good looks. The first quarter ended with the Eagles just up by seven points 18 -11.
In the second quarter, the Blue Eagles spewed fire as they translated a seven point first quarter lead to seventeen points as they limited the Archers to sixteen points in the second quarter while erupting for twenty six themselves to erect a 44-27 lead. Rabah scored 14 first half points as the Blue Eagles limited their opponent to 33% shooting while shooting 59% themselves. The Blue Eagles had more assists 12-4 and blocked shots 4-0 which showed their tenacity on defense. The Blue Eagles did not open the game like this last week and this time it showed that they can overpower the Greenies with a good start.
The Blue Eagles biggest lead came with 3:30 after Rabah Al-Husaini scored on a jumper 73-50. The Green Archers still scored 15 points the rest of the way but the game was way beyond reach for the team in green as Coach Franz Pumaren got his first three game losing streak after being in the league for 11 years. As they say, there is a first time for everything. The Green Archers are now 4 wins and 5 losses and are in the brink of not making it to the final four. If the Ateneans make it to the top the only way that these two teams will most probably meet again is if DLSU makes it to the no.4 spot. IF not, the Blue Eagles will finally sweep DLSU for two years for the first time since the 1986-1987 season. Remember, Franz was a member of the 1986 Green Archers. Dejavu.
The scores
Ateneo 81
Al Hussaini 26, Salamat 11, Salva 10, Baclao 9, Long 8, Reyes 6, Tiongson 5, Monfort 3, Chua 2, Buenafe 1, Sumalinog 0, Golla 0, Austria 0.
DLSU 65
Barua 16, Webb 13, Villanueva 10, Tolention 6, Marata 6, Mangahas 4, Bringas 3, Andrada 3, Malabes 2, CO 2, Mendoza 0, Ferdinand 0, Bagatsing 0, Atkins 0.
QUARTER SCORES: 18-11, 44-27, 63-47, 81-65.
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