ATENEO Blue Eagles eased the pain of its last-gasp heartbreak to Adamson with a win over UE, 76-69, in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
Joseph Obasa was at the forefront of Ateneo’s commanding response with 16 points, eight boards, and six blocks.
The Eagles and Warriors have drawn level in the team standings at 2-2 win-loss record.
READ: UP rallies past FEU in overtime to stay unscathed in Season 86
Also crucial to the Blue Eagles’ vengeance win was Kai Ballungay’s double-double of 18 points (13 in the first quarter) and 12 rebounds.
This, on top of a stunning free throw disparity between both teams as Ateneo's 25-of-34 charities prove superior over UE's single free throw made in just four attempts.
For Ateneo mentor Tab Baldwin, however, his wards were able to secure a ‘very good win’ in the absence of a ‘great basketball performance.’
“(The game) was not pretty but wins are what we need, and this round we have to get as many as we can to continue to improve as a team,” Baldwin said.
“In the first half, we didn’t play great defense. There were individual letdowns, the intensity wasn’t there, and there’s no excuse for that. But in the fourth quarter, we dug down deep and got a very good win despite not being a great basketball performance.”
The defending champs will bat for its first win streak this season against also-ran FEU, while UE eyes redemption versus Adamson at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.
The scores:
Ateneo (76) – Ballungay 18, Obasa 16, Brown 11, Koon 7, Amos 6, Lazaro 5, Tuano 4, Quitevis 4, Nieto 3, Bongo 2, Espinosa 0, Gomez 0.
UE (69) – Galang 12, Momowei 12, Lingolingo 12, Remogat 9, Cruz-Dumont 8, Wilson 7, Sawat 7, Tulabut 2, Gilbuena 0, Alcantara 0, Fikes 0.
Quarterscores: 18-22, 43-38, 59-58, 76-69.
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