Blue Eagles get fifth win

Greg stuffs it

When you are the top team in the land, other teams in the bottom will do whatever it can to be able to beat you.  Two days ago the UP fighting Maroons hd the Ateneo Blue Eagles figured out for more than two and half quarters.  The Maroons even led by ten points but the hard starting Blue Eagles eventually found a way to stem the tide and win the game.  When the Blue Eagles prepared for the UE Red Warriors they vowed that the same thing will not happen again but unfortunately the Blue Eagles found it hard to shake off the fast paced Red Warriors.

Nico Elorde fouled

The Red Warriors opened the quarter with a 5 – 0 blast courtesy of JR Sumido who sank a three pointer and an unmolested lay-up. The Blue Eagles were quite looking at a hole for a while since they did not match the intensity of the Red Warriors that led the Blue Eagles 7 - 2. Team Ateneo eventually caught up but could not shake off the gallant stand of the upset consciuos Red Warriors as the first quarter ended  19 – 18 in favor of the Blue Eagles. 

Ryan Buenafe scores on a jumper

Another ploy that the Warriors put into perfection was to make Greg Slaughter work on defense. Slaughter played one on one defense against the Warriors Center Chris Javier who burned Greg with ten first half points.  Javier ran rings around Greg as he scored on a turn around hook shot that silenced the Ateneo crowd. The UE shooters were quite online with Pedrito Gallanza torching the nets and Roy Sumang constantly pressuring the Ateneo guards which disrupted the Blue Eagle offense.  The result was a three point Ateneo lead at the half. Quite a succesful half for Coach Jerry Codiñera considering that his team looked like the team that is more in control.

Kiefer Ravena on the drive

As the second half started there was fire in the eyes of the Blue Eagles. Their usual offense was there but their unforgiving defense came to play.  After scoring 34 points in two quarters the Red Warriors could only muster five measly points in the third quarter where the Blue Eagles eventually made their move.  Ryan Buenafe sparked the Blue Eagle breakaway with his scoring, passing and all around play.  At the end of the third quarter the Blue Eagles were ahead by 15 points.

Poy Erram blocks the shot

After that third quarter onslaught of the Blue Eagles, the Red Warriors were brought back to earth by the mighty Blue Eagles.  For the first time in the season, Coach Norman fielded in the rest of the team with sightings of Chris Porter and the two other Eagles who have not yet played G-Boy Babilonia and Isaac Lim. Greg Slaughter and Keifer Ravena scored 14 and 12 respectively with Nico Salva having an off game with 7 points but that was enough for the Blue Eagles to score a 68 – 51  win over the UE Red Warriors.

Nico Salva hand off

Boxscores

ATENEO 68—Slaughter 14, Ravena 12, Gonzaga 9, Tiongson 7, Salva 7, Buenafe 6, Sumalinog 2, Pessumal 2, Golla 2, Erram 2, Elorde 2, Capacio 2, Chua 1, Porter 0, Lim 0, Babilonia 0.

UE 51—Javier 16, Galanza 12, Sumang 10, Hernandez 6, Sumido 5, Belleza 2, Alberto 0, Villarias 0, Valdez 0, Santos 0, Razon 0, Olayon 0, Mena 0, Flores 0, Duran 0, Duncil 0.

Quarter scores: 19-18; 37-34; 54-39; 68-51.