Games on Saturday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
8 a.m. – NU vs FEU (16U)
10 a.m. – UST vs DLSU (16U)
12 noon – NU vs FEU (Women)
2 p.m. – NU vs FEU (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UST vs DLSU (Men)
7 p.m. – UST vs DLSU (Women)
ATENEO DE MANILA University hung on to clip University of the East (UE) in another nail-biter, 62-60, and seize an early lead in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena in Manila.
One-and-done player Kymani Ladi once again came to the rescue with a go-ahead triple in the last 23 seconds as the Blue Eagles banked on their defensive claws the rest of the way for a 2-0 start.
The Blue Eagles wasted a chance to seal the deal by misfiring three of its last four free throws down the stretch but UE anchor Precious Momowei missed the game-winning triple from centercourt for their second straight one-possession victory.
Ateneo, also behind the heroics of Filipino-American stalwart Mr. Ladi, escaped with an 86-83 overtime against Far Eastern University in the opening weekend for a massive turnaround so far following a dismal 0-3 start last season.
“It wasn’t the best performance once again for us but it was a gutsy win. We made shots we had to make and stops we had to make,” said coach Tab Baldwin, looking good in a Final Four return bid after missing the semis for the first time last season with a 4-10 record.
“Give credit to Chris (Gavina) and UE. They really battled (today) and made it difficult on offense for us but at the end of the day, it’s defense and rebounding that won us the game.”
Fresh off a 26-point, nine-rebound debut against the Tamaraws, the 6-foot-8 ace Mr. Ladi was on target anew with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Blue Eagles.
His trey from a Jared Bahay assist after Wello Lingolingo gave UE a 60-58 lead returned the driver’s seat to Ateneo after losing an 11-point halftime lead – and for good.
Joaqui Espina added 17 points while Mr. Bahay and Dom Escobar contributed eight and seven, respectively. Mr. Bahay also scattered six rebounds, four assists and a steal for another all-around brilliance.
Winner of four titles under Mr. Baldwin before the fall of its dynasty last season, Ateneo was a team on a mission in the first half by erecting a 35-24 lead before melting down to UE’s 23-10 third-quarter blast to figure in dogfight in the payoff period.
A nip-and-tuck battle boiled down to Mr. Lingolingo’s big trey that was quickly answered by Mr. Ladi in back-to-back heroic possessions.
Trailing by 60-61, UE actually had a chance to snatch back the lead — and the win — but Mr. Escobar stole the basketball from Nico Mulingtapang that resulted to a clear path foul for Ateneo’s free throws plus a ball possession.
UE still had a chance despite all of its miscues as Mr. Escobar split his charities and Jadem Lazo blanked his own pair but Mr. Momowei rushed a triple from halfcourt with still four seconds to go for Ateneo’s escape act.
Mr. Lingolingo fired 19 while John Abate had 10 points for the Red Warriors, who fell to 0-2 under new coach Chris Gavina after a 72-57 debut loss to the National University Bulldogs.
Meanwhile in the start of women’s basketball, two-time UAAP MVP Kacey dela Rosa erupted for 29 points, nine rebounds, five steals and four blocks as Ateneo debuted with an 81-52 trashing of UE. — John Bryan Ulanday
