Blue Eagles rout Bulldogs

Nico Salva topscored 

for the Blue and White

Former Blue Eagle Jason Escueta couldn’t said it much better. In his facebook post three days ago he said “ Good luck sa mga may Dacanay, Que at sa susunod na kalaban ng Ateneo.” Jason was referring to two of the most avid jesuit fans of the Blue Eagles, Fr. Nemy Que and Fr. Adolfo “Dacs” Dacanay who he figured were both  devastated with the loss to the UST Growling Tigers last Thursday. What was more like a premonition was the good luck to the next opponent of the bLue Eagles who he figured would come back with sharpened claws. Lo and Behold, the highly anticipated match between the two summer league champs, the National University Bulldogs and Fr. Martin’s Cup Champ Ateneo Blue Eagles became a one sided affair as the Blue Eagles blew away the Bulldogs 89 - 65.

Greg Slaughter on the move

                                                      

Juami Tiongson started things going in the first possession of the Ateneo by scoring on a three point shot. After an NU miss Tiongson drove to the basket,  got a foul from Gelo Alolino and scored again on a three point play this time. Nico Salva drove the basket to make it 8 – 0, a fiery start by the Blue Eagles. From thereon the Bulldogs never knew what hit them and they played catch up the whole game.  Emmanuel Mbe would score eight points in the first quarter to give the Bulldogs enough breathing room but that would not be enough for the Blue Eagle onslaught.

Tonino Gonzaga worked hard 

on both offense and defense

The last time these two teams met in the Filo-oil Pre season tournament where the Bulldogs were so ferocious they routed the Blue Eagles to the tune of an 85 – 68 win with Bobby Ray Parks scoring 30 points. Unfortunately for the  Bulldogs, the Blue Eagles showed why they are the four –peat champions as their firepower was too much for the Bulldogs to handle as they scored 55 first half points. At the same time their defense was unforgiving as the rest of the Bulldogs never got their games going to support Parks and Mbe.

Nico on the drive

Aside from the good games of Nico Salva who scattered 21 points, Kiefer Ravena who had 17 points and Greg Slaughter who had 14, Justin Chua came out with a good game by scoring 12 points with Tonino Gonzaga getting 9 points while Juami Tiongson scoring 8 points.  With that much firepower there was not much denying the Blue Eagles as they also shut down Jeoff Javillonar, Gelo Alolino and Spencer Rosario who combined for three points, down from their  previous 41 point combination in their first game.  

Kiefer Ravena scores

The Blue Eagles led by as much as 27 points at one point 87 - 60 which is a testament that winning preseason tournaments and the UAAP are not the same.  This just shows that the Bulldogs are also vulnerable and can be whipped once a team plays good defense and has adequate offense to pull the win. At the same time, the Blue Eagles avoided losing back to back games this season, the last time they lost back to back was in the 2006 championships. Next stop, the Blue Eagles battle their archrivals, the Blue Eagles.

Justin Chua jumper

The scores:

Ateneo (89) – Salva 21, Ravena, 17, Slaughter 14, Chua 12, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 8, Elorde 3, Buenafe 3, Erram 2, Porter 0, Pessumal 0, Capacio 0.

NU (65) – Parks 22, Mbe 14, Villamor 10, Ignacio 6, Rono 5, De Guzman 2, Betayene 2, Alolino 2, Khobuntin 1, Javillonar 1, Rosario 0, Neypes 0, Labing-isa 0.

Quarterscores: 28-17, 55-34, 72-54, 89-65.