ATENEO held on to a narrow 70-69 win against an Under-22 selection team from various Japanese universities on Thursday ahead of its title defense in the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) in Tokyo.
The reigning UAAP champions bucked a slow, error-plagued start caused by Japan U-22’s fast and fluid ball movement.
Carrying a seven-point lead at the half, the Blue Eagles survived a Japan comeback to build a 70-64 lead in the final minute courtesy of clutch free throws from Nigerian big man Joseph Obasa and a late Josh Lazaro slam.
However, Japan’s U-22 boys responded with a five-point spree to cut the lead to one, 70-69, with roughly 15 seconds to spare.
The Japanese collegiate stars had one last shot to snatch the win in the final moments, but a missed floater handed Ateneo a slim one-point win.
In less than 24 hours, the Blue Eagles will kickstart their WUBS title retention bid against Australia’s University of Sydney on Friday (6 p.m. local time).
A win for Ateneo over the Aussie side will set up a semis clash with either Hakuoh University (Japan) or Perbanas Institute of Indonesia on Saturday.
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