CHRIS Koon couldn’t have returned at a better time for Ateneo, helping the struggling squad finally break through in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
In danger of falling to an unheard of 0-4 hole, the Blue Eagles gutted out a 60-51 escape from Adamson for win No. 1 on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Koon picked up eight points and four rebounds in his comeback after missing the last two games due to a sprained ankle to finally end the Katipunan side’s three-game losing skid to start the season.
Young Eagles starting to spread wings
Kristian Porter also added eight points and 10 rebounds, as the rookie had to defend a tough Cedrick Manzano who almost willed the Soaring Falcons back from 16 points down.
Adamson actually had momentum on its side, with Manzano dropping 10 in the final frame to get to within three, 54-51, with 1:04 remaining.
But it was also Manzano who missed his hook over the outstretched arms of Porter, leading to Ian Espinosa and Shawn Tuano to seal this victory from the free throw line in the final minute.
Tuano got 11 points off of six freebies, while Andrew Bongo and Josh Lazaro scored seven apiece.
"We're obviously happy. The guys fought really hard. I’ve said that we’re a team that will have good patches and bad patches, and the fourth quarter was a really bad patch, but we survived," said coach Tab Baldwin.
It’s a brutal loss for the Falcons who failed to follow up on their big win over University of Santo Tomas to drop to 2-2.
Manzano showed the way for the Soaring Falcons with 14 points and seven rebounds as he was the only one who got his game going for the San Marcelino side.
The Scores:
ATENEO 60 – Tuano 11, Porter 8, Koon 8, Lazaro 7, Bongo 7, Gamber 6, Quitevis 5, Bahay 5, Espinosa 2, Balogun 1, Ong 0, Espina 0, Edu 0.
ADAMSON 51 – Manzano 14, Yerro 6, Ramos 6, Erolon 4, Anabo 4, Barasi 4, Fransman 2, Mantua 2, Ojarikre 2, Calisay 2, Montebon 2, Dignadice 2, Alexander 1.
Quarters: 17-6, 31-20, 50-36, 60-51.
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