MANILA, Philippines — Nilipad ng Ateneo de Manila University ang matamis na panalo matapos ipahiya ang University of Sto. Tomas, 67-64 sa kanilang balwarte kahapon sa UAAP Season 87 collegiate men’s basketball tournament na nilaro sa UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Tumikada si Andrew Bongo ng game-high 14 points at pitong rebounds habang bumakas si Ian Espinosa ng 11 markers anim na boards para sa Blue Eagles na nirehistro ang pangatlong panalo sa siyam na laro.
Naghahabol ng dalawang puntos ang Growling Tigers may 16 segundo na lang sa orasan, may tsansa sana nilang itabla ang iskor pero nabasa ni Sean Quitevis ang inbound pass ni Forthsky Padrigao kay Nic Cabañero kaya nakapuntos ang Blue Eagles mula sa fastbreak layup, 66-62.
Natapyasan ni Kyle Paranada sa dalawa ang lamang ng Blue Eagles mula sa kanyang layup pero naging tatlo matapos ang split charity ni Espinosa.
Huling tsansa ng España-based squad na makahirit ng overtime game pero natapik ang bola kay Christian Manaytay at inabutan na ito ng oras.
“I’m glad you bring that up. I don’t know when was the last time in the UAAP you had to play a road game… It was a mystery to us why that happened, but it did, and what it required of us was to really gut it out. I think this was one of the gutsiest wins we’ve had in a few years,” ani Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin.
Kasalo ng Blue Eagles sa sixth place ang Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
“Entering the second round, I told the rookies and the team, moving on to the second round, wala nang rookies-rookies. Alam na natin yung experience ng UAAP, so dapat alam na natin kung paano maging composed kasi, knowing, nung first round, nawawala kami sa mga crucial na situation,” ani Espinosa.
Bumakas sina Chris Koon at Shawn Tuano ng tig-10 markers para sa Blue Eagles.