Eagles swoop down on Maroons, enter City Hoops finals

MANILA, Philippines — Defending UAAP men's basketball champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles clinched the final slot in the 2018 SMART City Hoops 25-under Summer Classic after surviving a highly physical game against Katipunan-neighbors University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 64-51, Saturday at the Greenhills West Clubhouse.

The Blue Eagles will face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the one-game championship showdown in the tournament presented by Chooks-to-Go, Mighty Sports, Rain or Shine Elasto Paint, Cignal TV, and Wilson Basketball, on Wednesday, June 13 at 2:30 p.m.

“I’m just happy that we won, ‘cause we really didn’t shoot well in terms of shooting. We shot really poor from the three,” said Thirdy Ravena as the Blue Eagles went just 6-for-30 from downtown.

Holding a 39-35 lead midway through the third canto, the Blue Eagles finished strong in the third frame after closing out the quarter with a 6-2 spur.

The Blue Eagles then relied on the hot hands of Adrian Wong, who scored 11 of his 14 points in the final frame, to continue their momentum. Ateneo would lead by as much as 15 points in the contest, 64-49.

“I think it’s our defense and our execution and our hustle that actually bailed us out from this game, UP played really well, they played tough,” added Ravena, who had a brief confrontation with a fuming Jun Manzo during the tail-end of the third frame.

Ivorian reinforcement Angelo Kouame added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Blue Eagles.

Ravena and Isaac Go added eight points apiece for the Blue Eagles, who now have won all of their seven games since their annual Baler camp.

For UP, Manzo tallied a total of 10 points in 25 minutes of play while Gelo Vito added eight markers.

Gilas Cadet Juan Gomez de Liano struggled from the field shooting just 2-of-9 from the field for just four points while Bright Akhuetie played limited minutes in the ball game and was held to only five markers.

The Scores:

ADMU 64 – Wong 14, Kouame 12, Ravena 8, Go 8, White 5, Mamuyac 4, Mendoza 2, Go 2, Mallilin 3, Ma. Nieto 2, Maagdenberg 2, Tio 2, Verano 2, Belangel 0.

UP 52 – Manzo 10, Vito 8, Tungcab 5, Ja. Gomez de Liano 5, Akhuetie 5, Ju. Gomez de Liano 4, Murell 4, Prado 4, Desiderio 2, Lim 2, Gozum 2.

Quarterscores: 10-4, 33-21, 45-37, 64-51.