Blue Eagles win 4th game

Great playmaking by the playmakers

Payback? Karma? A year ago when the Ateneo Blue Eagles faced a winless University of the Philippines squad, nothing fell for the Blue Eagles as they lost their only game in the eliminations which helped them build a mean streak all the way to the championship. This year, it was a total reversal as the UP Fighting Maroons took a sound beating from the two time defending champions as the Ateneo Blue Eagles clobbered the Maroons 78 -53.

Ryan has yet to explode again this season

The first quarter saw the Maroons chalk up 17 points and have a five point lead against the slow starting Blue Eagles which eventually led the viewers to believe that it might be a repeat of last year's first round loss. Unfortunately for the Maroons, they would only score 13 points in the next two quarters after the Blue Eagles' defense went to full throttle. UP's fabled scorer Mike Silungan only scored 5 points the whole game while 11 of Alvin Padilla's 12 points came in the fourth quarter during garbage time. By the start of the fourth quarter, the bench warmers were already warming up and for the first time this year rookie Jeric Estrada and Carlo Balmaceda were fielded in together with returnee Chris de Chavez. Both of them scored 2 points each with Estrada scoring on a jumper.

Jumbo looks on

This year's theme centers on Heroes and the Blue Eagles featured another one in sophomore point guard Juami TIongson who is slowly coming into his own as he scored a career high 13 points on 3 of 3 shooting from the three point area. Tiongson combined with the unstoppable Nico Salva and Eric Salamat. Another unsung hero slowly becoming a solid contributor is Frank Golla who is getting those rebounds and scoring 8 points today against Magi Sison who is bigger than him.

Kirk on the move

Not much can be said about this blow out game. The most important thing about it is that the Blue Eagles are slowly getting to the groove which won them two consecutive titles. In the last two games, they started slowly but once they recover they unleash hell upon those who would want to pull them down. The result, both games ended in routs. Next stop - last year's runner up, the UE Red Warriors.

Career game for Juami Tiongson

The Scores:

ADMU 78 – Salva 18, Tiongson 13, Salamat 12, Golla 8, Chua 8, Escueta 6, Long 3, Estrada 2, Dela Cruz 2, Monfort 2, Buenafe 2, Austria 2, Erram 0, Balmaceda 0, Gonzaga 0, De Chavez 0.

UP 53 – Sison 13, Padilla 12, Lopez 6, Silungan 5, Co 5, Gomez 4, Martin Reyes 3, Migs Reyes 2, Juruena 2, Jose 1, Saret 0, Maniego 0, Hipolito 0, Gingerich 0.

Quarters: 12-17, 38-25, 54-30, 78-53.