Blue Eagles repluse Red Warriors

The MVP has risen from his slumber. After spraining his ankle last Sunday and watching his team win the game, the reigning MVP came out huffing and puffing and scoring 30 points and pulling down 12 rebounds to give the Ateneo Blue Eagles their fourth straight win 80-75 at the expense of the UE Red Warriors. Al-Husaini became a giant among midgets as he towered over the hapless Red Warriors who were playing without center Pari Llagas who was suspended after being thrown out after figuring in a scuffle with FEU’s Riel Cervantes. For the Red Warriors, No Pari No Carry as they were outmatched this time around.

The first quarter was another let me feel you stage as both teams battled toe to toe with the Red Warriors coming out on top 21-19. This is good enough since the last time they met the team in red zoomed to a 20 point lead courtesy of Val Acuña. Then came the paralyzing 19-2 run in the second quarter that gave the Blue Eagles enough distance to coast along for the win. Nico Salva scored 10 of his 12 points in that run that gave the Blue Eagles a commanding 48-30 lead.The Blue Eagles shot a whopping 67% from the floor and limited their opponent to only 30% field goal shooting. The ball was evenly distributed as the Ealges had more assists 11-2, rebounds 23-11 and bench points 20-7. Name a statistical category and the Blue Eagles were better than the Red Warriors.

The rest of the Blue Eagles carried out their usual roles with Eric Salamat getting 5 steals, 5 assists and one blocked shot to go along with his 6 points. Jai Reyes had the only three pointer for the Blue Eagles as he scored 11 points which is a superb support to Rabah’s 30. This game marked the first time that Nico Salva scored in double figures in back to back games. He scored 10 against the Green Archers and 12 this time. It would have been three if he scored another bucket against NU after he ended up with 8 points in that game. This showed the consistency that is brewing from the second team.

The second half still belonged to the MVP as the scored at will as he ate up all the “small” defenders thrown at him. It was a fitting recovery after he failed to come back from the bench during the Ateneo – La Salle game when he sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter. He was there to stem the tide as the Red Warriors cut their 14 point lead in the fourth quarter. Surprisingly the Blue Eagles were outscored in three of the four quarters by the Red Warriors. This win prepares them again as they meet the Green Archers this Sunday.

The scores:

Ateneo 80 – Al-Hussaini 30, Salva 12, Reyes 11, Salamat 6, Long 5, Buenafe 5, Baclao 4, Monfort 3, Sumalinog 2, Austria 2, Golla 0, Chua 0.

UE 75 – Lee 20, Espiritu 20, Zamar 10, Lingganay 9, Acuña 9, Duran 3, Tagarda 2, Reyes 2, Sumido 0, Bandaying 0, Ayala 0, Acibar 0, Alabanza 0.

Quarter scores: 19-21, 48-30, 58-43, 80-75.