MANILA, Philippines - A fully energized Ateneo ran roughshod over archrival De La Salle, 79-62, to secure their 11th straight win and twice-to-beat incentive going to the Final Four of UAAP Season 74 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.
Nico Salva (19 points), Kiefer Ravena (13), Emman Monfort (13) and Tonino Gonzaga (12) spearheaded Ateneo’s surge in the second half en route to the rout that not only assured them of a Top 2 finish after the elims but also moved them closer to a 14-game sweep.
“It’s important for the players to just focus on the next game against UP, then against NU then against Adamson,” said coach Norman Black, who also logged his 90th victory as AdMU tactician since 2005.
“We’ve talked about it (sweep) this week just to get it out in the open and we just decided to take it one game at a time. But if we get the opportunity to score a sweep then we’ll go for it,” he added.
A sweep would give Ateneo automatic slot in the finals, where they will enjoy a thrice-to-beat bonus.
Unlike in their 74-70 win over University of the East where Black complained that energy level was low, the Eagles were fully energized and focused against the Archers, storming to leads that reached a high of 21 (78-57) despite Greg Slaughter going into foul trouble.
“We didn’t have to motivate them that much whenever they play La Salle,” said Black. “We understand they (Archers) really needed this game to try to get into the Final Four and we just wanted to come out and beat them.”
Slaughter scored only eight points in 18 minutes, committing two quick fouls in the first period and picking up his third in the third quarter.
“I gambled a little bit by leaving Greg in the game with three fouls in the third. I think that made a big difference,” said Black, noting how Slaughter’s presence opened it up for Ateneo’s perimeter shooters and slashers.
Arnold Van Opstal shot 13 for La Salle, which slid to 4-7.
Earlier, University of Santo Tomas survived an atrocious shooting day to prevail over University of the East, 54-45, and firm up its hold of the fourth spot.
Cameroonian Karim Abdul and veteran Jeric Fortuna presided over a decisive 14-4 assault in the fourth quarter to tow the Tigers to their sixth win in 11 outings, one-and-a-half game ahead of No. 5 La Salle (4-7) and two ahead of National U (4-7).
UST pulled off its second straight triumph despite making only 21 of 75 attempts for a woeful 28 percent. This is the second lowest field goal shooting for a winning team since La Salle had a 27.6 percent clip in a 64-63 victory over UST on July 26, 2009.
But the Tigers knocked down the important baskets in the payoff period with Abdul scoring six of his game-high 16 points and Fortuna making five of his 11 points as UST pulled away from a tight 40-39 game to a 54-43 bulge, 13.4 seconds left in the contest.
“This is the momentum I’ve been looking for in the second round. I hope we can sustain it because our target is not only to hold on to the fourth Final Four slot but to possibly end up No. 2 as well,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio, whose wards posted their third win in four outings in the second round of elims.
According to Jarencio, the Tigers initially could not find their rhythm, allowing UE (2-9) to seize a 30-24 lead despite committing 16 errors in the first half.
“Our defense in the first half was atrocious. We were not going after the ball, we were not boxing out. We’re the No. 1 team in rebounding but UE outrebounded us by seven in the first half,” he said.
“Luckily we found our rhythm in the second half and crashed the boards and we ended up tied in rebounding (49-49),” he added.
Jhon Sumido led the way for UE with 10 points.
(source: Phil Star)
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