ATENEO outclassed San Beda, 76-62, in the championship game of the 2018 Chooks-to-Go Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Tournament MVP Angelo Kouame ignited the second quarter assault as his presence down low allowed the Blue Eagles to spell the difference, jumping to a 45-26 halftime lead and no longer looking back.
Evan Nelle kept the Red Lions alive and cut the deficit down to as low as 11, 70-59, with two minutes left on the clock, but Raffy Verano’s triple and an emphatic block from Kouame on Donald Tankoua cooled off the rally as the Katipunan side finished the summer tournament perfect through 12 games.
The Ivorian Kouame uncorked 15 points, 16 rebounds, and three blocks in the battle of the champions.
Jolo Mendoza went flawless from downtown to notch nine points and two assists, while Verano chimed in nine points and three rebounds.
Thirdy Ravena and SJ Belangel contributed seven points apiece for Ateneo, which had to go through the grindhouse in the past three days after arriving from Greece last Wednesday.
Javee Mocon paced San Beda with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Tankoua had 13 points, five boards, and two steals.
Robert Bolick played for only two minutes in the second half after seemingly hurting his ankle on a fastbreak drive midway through the second period.
The scores:
ATENEO 76 — Kouame 15, Mendoza 9, Verano 9, Belangel 7, Ravena 7, Asistio 6, Go 6, Mi. Nieto 6, Mamuyac 5, Maagdenberg 3, Navarro 3, Andrade 0, Black 0, Ma. Nieto 0, Tio 0, Wong 0.
SAN BEDA 62 — Mocon 14, Tankoua 13, Abuda 9, Canlas 7, Doliguez 6, Nelle 5, Cabanag 4, Cariño 2, Oftana 2, Bolick 0, Burri 0, Cuntapay 0, Eugene 0, Tongco 0.
Quarters: 19-15, 45-26, 56-42, 76-62.
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