Eagles notch third win in Fr. Martin’s Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo overwhelmed University of the East, 66-49, to stretch its win run to three in the 12th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament at the San Beda gym in Mendiola over the weekend.

Aaron Black and Cameroonian Chibueze Ikeh scored 11 points apiece while rookie Hubert Cani and Jerie Pingoy added nine and seven markers, respectively, for the defending champion Blue Eagles.

San Sebastian and University of Santo Tomas also hurdled their respective rivals with the Stags drawing 14 points from Jason David and 12 markers each from Josh Grilli and Aljon Capobres to defeat the Angeles University Foundation side, 91-77, in the tournament supported by Bauerfeind health care products and Wang’s Basketball.

Brian Lacap shot 13 points as the UST Tigers Cubs trounced the Lyceum Junior Pirates in the junior division.

The Blue Eagles, who earlier toppled the National College of Business and Arts Wildcats, 73-71, are now in the solo lead of Group B, while the Stags tote a 1-1 slate in Group C.

With the six-foot-nine Ikeh imposing his will inside, the Blue Eagles took charge at 33-25 at the turn and never looked back.

Cani struck with seven points in the third period, including a triple as Ateneo pulled away by 13, 38-25, in the last 9:41.

Ikeh’s drive past UE’s big man, Cameroonian Bernard Awana, then gave Ateneo a 48-29 spread.

In other matches, Technological Institute of the Philippines-A outplayed Jose Rizal University, 51-45, in the senior division as Chino Medina shot 13 points, while Xavier School drew 17 points from Ian Lipio as it defeated Trinity University of Asia, 75-55, in the juniors section.