ATENEO built a huge lead early and coasted to a 96-78, victory over Southwestern University on Friday in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League at the Arena in San Juan.
The Blue Eagles took an early 19-point cushion, 36-17, after a Nico Salva basket at the 6:52 mark of the second period and went on to even their win-loss card at 1-1.
Greg Slaughter came up with 18 points for the Blue Eagles, who bounced back from their 66-76 loss to University of Santo Tomas.
Kiefer Ravena and Salva added 16 and 10, respectively, as the Eagles shoved the Cobras out of contention with their second loss in as many games.
“We are much better now. We played with more energy as compared to the last time,” said Eagles assistant coach Gabby Severino.
The Eagles kept the 19-point lead at the half, 50-31, and stretched it to 60-24, after a 10-3 spurt in the third period.
The Cobras came charging with a 16-4 blast but that only sliced Ateneo’s lead to 14, 62-74, with
7:51 on the game clock.
The champions of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. also struggled with foul troubles and Benoit Mbala, Justine Aboude and Darryl Galoran made early exits.
Monbert Arong led four other Cobras in double digits with 17 markers, Mbala had 15, Bonifacio Guillena came up with 12 points, Aboude had 11 and Benito Ortuyo scored 10.
The Scores:
Ateneo 96 – Slaughter 18, Ravena 16, Salva 10, Sumalinog 8, Gonzaga 8, Porter 7, Pessumal 6, Chua 6, Tiongson 6, Elorde 6, Golla 3, Capacio 2, Lim 0.
SWU 78 – Arong 17, Mbala 15, Guillena 12, Aboude 11, Ortuyo 10, Goloran 7, Bregondo 6, Pajantay 0, Nalos 0, Dedace 0.
Quarterscores: 23-12; 50-31; 72-55; 96-78.
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