MANILA, Philippines — Niresbakan ng Ateneo de Manila University ang National University matapos dagitin ang makapigil hiningang 70-68 panalo kahapon sa UAAP Season 87 collegiate men’s basketball tournament na nilaro sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Maging ang top scorer ng Blue Eagles na si rookie Kristian Porter ay nakabawi mula sa masagwang laro ng matalo sila sa Bulldogs, 68-78 sa first round noong Oktubre 5.
Nirehistro ni Porter ang double-double performance na 14 points at 10 rebounds kasama ang tig-dalawang steals at blocks para tulungan ang Blue Eagles na ilista ang 2-6 karta.
Sa unang pagharap ng Ateneo sa NU, hindi man lang naka-puntos si Porter at isang rebound lang ang nai-ambag nito kaya halos mahimasmasan ito dahil bukod sa maganda ang laro ay nanalo pa sila.
“My mindset coming to the game was just do my job and help the team no matter how and just play through the system, the points just came, the rebounds. I just trusted my teammates and I wanna put this out here, the Ateneo community. Going out, seeing the whole community no matter our standing, they’re still there for us,” ani Porter.
Nakatuwang ni Porter sa opensa ang kapwa rookie na si Jared Bahay na tumikada ng 12 puntos, anim na boards, limang assists, at isang steal habang 10 points at walong rebounds ang inambag ni Chris Koon para sa Ateneo na nakalsuhan ang kanilang three-game skid.
“It was enough to get us over the finish line. Very, very satisfying I know for the players that it’s been a tough first half of the season and they’ve stuck together you got to give them credit for that,” ani Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin.
Nagtala naman si Jake Figueroa ng 15 points at 10 rebounds para sa NU.