Big men Enrico Villanueva and Rich Alvarez delivered the points that mattered most as the former rattled off a powerful dunk in closing minutes while the latter sank two free throws in the final 31 seconds to lead the Eagles to their sixth win in 11 games.
It was the second straight victory for the Eagles since they went on a horrible skid before losing quarterback LA Tenorio to a hand injury for the rest of the season. A sweep of its last three games will give Ateneo a chance to land in the top two of the Final Four.
Tenorio’s absence, however, was hardly felt yesterday as backup point guards Mark Anthony Escalona and Christopher Quimpo manned the fort for the Eagles who watched Tiger Jemal Vizcarra muff a three-pointer at the buzzer.
"The boys showed a lot of nerve in the endgame, and I think that was the key to this important victory," said Ateneo coach Joel Banal, who also drew the needed points from Jek Chia, Larry Fonacier and Wesley Gonzales as they forged a tie with the Tigers.
Earlier, University of the Philippines went to Michael Bravo down the stretch as it survived Adamson’s late surge, 67-65, to remain in the hunt for a Final Four berth with a 4-6 slate.
The Falcons had 14 seconds to either force overtime or steal the win but Ramil Tagupa held on to the ball too long that when he decided to pass to Melvin Mamaclay, time was just about to expire.
After missing nine of his first 11 shots, Bravo rediscovered his touch in time as he drained two baskets with 1:22 minute to go. They were enough to deal Adamson its eighth setback against three triumphs.
Meanwhile, the Baby Maroons seized the solo lead in the juniors’ section with a 63-59 trouncing of the Baby Falcons for their eighth win in nine outings, their best start since the Paolo Mendoza-led UPIS made it to the Final Four in 1995.