THUS far in UAAP Season 89, Ateneo has been riding a roller-coaster. But what it has consistently done is be a dog walker.
The Blue Eagles once again turned it up at the perfect time, catching fire in the endgame for a 69-65 victory vs. National U at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, to cut short the Bulldogs’ four-game win run.
This time around, it was Jared Bahay who replicated Kieffer Alas’ first-round performance, unleashing back-to-back triples to kickstart a 9-3 run in the last two minutes to bump their record to 5-4.
“We thought we couldn't find our rhythm, but then we just trusted our shots,” said Bahay who wound up with 16 points and two steals.
Ateneo's late flight out
The two blue-and-white guards endured a dry spell in the third quarter, with only Alas making a basket, as they entered the deciding frame with a 53-55 deficit.
But when the last two minutes announcement rang out, ice returned in their veins, as Bahay and Alas combined to account for 12 of Ateneo’s proceeding 16 points, keeping their record perfect in the second round so far.
EJ Kapihe backstopped the two, chipping in eight points, while Ian Espinosa and Travis Roberts chimed in seven apiece.
For the Bulldogs, Mo Diassana’s career-high went for naught, as the big from Mali finished with 17 points, 13 boards, and two blocks for the Bulldogs, who dropped to 6-3.
Reinhard Jumamoy also added 16 points, six booards, and six dimes before going 2-of-7 in the fourth and incurring a flagrant foul in the dying seconds.
The Scores:
ATENEO 69 – Alas 18, Bahay 16, Kapihe 8, Espinosa 7, Roberts 7, Rogers 5, Tuano 4, Espina 3, Baruwa 1, Cainglet 0, Bongo 0, Leal 0.
NU 65 – Diasanna 17, Jumamoy 16, Padrones 8, Palacielo 6, Garcia 6, Francisco 6, Alfanta 6, Solomon 0, Reyes 0, Laconsay 0, Cartel 0.
Quarters: 24-19, 42-39, 53-53, 69-65
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