FOR Ateneo to exorcise its ghosts from a year ago, it first had to clean up its mess right at home.
The Blue Eagles did just that inside their homecourt on Saturday, exacting revenge on Far Eastern University with a gutsy 75-72 decision that gets them back inside the winners' circle in UAAP Season 89.
After suffering a 23-point beating at the hands of the Tamaraws in their first round meeting, Ateneo saw to it to get its lick back at the Blue Eagle Gym.
Skipper Jared Bahay spearheaded the blue-and-white’s hot start, pouring in 13 points in the first half to help establish a commanding 46-30 lead at the break.
But the green-and-gold refused to go down without a fight, as it unleashed a 20-12 third quarter assault to cut its deficit to just eight heading into the final canto.
Kieffer Alas then made sure his first home game would not be spoiled, putting on the counters to their opponent's runs and putting a stop to Ateneo's three-game skid.
Down to the final buzzer
Still, FEU kept coming and though down by nine inside the last two minutes, Jorick Bautista knocked down a top of the key trey while Mo Konateh converted a basket underneath to make it a four-point game with 36 seconds left.
Bautista once again buried a triple off Cabs Cabonilas' assist before they fouled Alas who converted his freebies to make it three-point game with 3.7 ticks left.
Off a timeout, however, reigning MVP Janrey Pasaol turned down a good look at a three and settled for a long floater just inside the arc that hit front rim as the final buzzer sounded.
Rookie of the Year frontrunner Alas finished with 21 points, four rebounds, and two steals, while Bahay and Sultan Baruwa added 15 and 13 markers, respectively.
“This is a very, very, big, huge, huge win for us because I know we are just one game behind sa mga nasa upper bracket,” head coach Louie Alas said, as he and his wards forged a four-team logjam for fourth with a 4-4 standing.
Bautista paced the Tamaraws with 18 points, four rebounds, and four steals, as Konateh tallied 12 points, 16 boards, and three blocks. They fall for the third time in a row following a 4-1 start to the season.
The Scores:
ATENE0 75 - Alas 21, Bahay 15, Baruwa 13, Espinosa 8, Roberts 8, Tuano 6, Kapihe 2, Rogers 2, Bongo 0. Espina 0.
FEU 71 - Bautista 18, Konateh 12, Mongcopa 11, Cabonilas 11, Pasaol 7, Burgos 7, Daa 4, Nakai 2, Felipe 0, Gish 0, Montemayor 0.
Quarters: 21-14, 46-30, 58-50, 75-71.
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