Ateneo Edges NU, 69-65, to Spoil Bulldogs' Bid for Joint UAAP Season 89 Lead
Key Takeaways
- •Ateneo won its second consecutive game after overcoming NU, 69-65.
- •Kieffer Alas led Ateneo with 18 points, while Jared Bahay contributed 16 points and four three-pointers.
- •NU dropped to third place at 6-3, leaving UP alone atop the men’s standings at 7-2.
- •Ateneo and DLSU, both 5-4, are scheduled to meet Saturday in a key Final Four race matchup.
- •Santo Tomas remained unbeaten in women’s basketball at 8-0 after defeating UP, while NU beat Ateneo to improve to 6-2.
Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) denied National University (NU) a share of the top spot, scoring a 69-65 repeat victory to boost its own Final Four drive in UAAP Season 89 men's basketball on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Jared Bahay and Kieffer Alas conspired in the clutch as the Blue Eagles duplicated their first-round 87-76 triumph over the Bulldogs, lifting Ateneo to 5-4 and into a tie for No. 3 with reigning champion De La Salle University (DLSU).
That earlier setback had stood as the Bulldogs' last loss before they strung together four straight wins to catch league-leading University of the Philippines (UP) at 7-2. Instead of drawing level at the top, NU slid to 6-3, missing its shot at tying the Fighting Maroons with five games left in the race for a Final Four incentive. In the UAAP, the top four teams after the elimination round advance to the Final Four, where seeding determines the playoff incentives at stake.
Mr. Alas rifled in 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Mr. Bahay drilled in 16 points on four triples, three rebounds and two steals — none bigger than his heroics when it mattered most.
Trailing 59-62 in the final minute, Mr. Bahay drained back-to-back treys to hand the Blue Eagles a three-point cushion before Mr. Alas buried another triple for the dagger. That proved to be enough separation despite the Bulldogs' comeback attempt, giving the Katipunan-based squad its second straight win after a 75-72 defeat of Far Eastern University (FEU) last weekend snapped a costly three-game skid bridging the two rounds.
“Jared and Kieffer were able to deliver with those big shots. We all know that these two players are winners and big-time players. And that's what they did,” said team manager Nico Salva on behalf of mentor Louie Alas.
Neither side managed to pull away in the nip-and-tuck battle. Ateneo erected the game's biggest lead at 37-28 in the first half before NU squeaked ahead, 62-59, with 1:19 remaining. Mr. Bahay and Mr. Alas then came to the rescue for the Blue Eagles, who also created a little breathing room from FEU (4-4), Adamson University (4-4) and University of Santo Tomas (4-5) in the congested middle pack of the team standings. Saturday's men's slate at the same venue now carries added weight for that chase, with NU (6-3) facing UST (4-5) at 2:30 p.m. before Ateneo and DLSU, tied at 5-4 for No. 3, meet at 6 p.m.
Mo Diassana hauled down a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds, laced with two blocks, while MVP derby leader Reinhard Jumamoy added 16 points for the Bulldogs.
In women's basketball, titleholder Santo Tomas (8-0) extended its unbeaten run with a 93-65 win over UP (4-4), as NU (6-2) solidified its hold on second place after a dominant 84-60 victory over Ateneo (4-4). — John Bryan Ulanday
Games on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum: NU vs FEU (Women), 10 a.m.; AdU vs Ateneo (Women), noon; NU vs UST (Men), 2:30 p.m.; Ateneo vs DLSU (Men), 6 p.m.
The scores:
Ateneo 69 — Alas 18, Bahay 16, Kapihe 8, Espinosa 7, Roberts 7, Rogers 5, Tuano 4, Espina 3, Baruwa 1, Cainglet 0, Bongo 0, Leal 0.
NU 65 — Diassana 17, Jumamoy 16, Padrones 8, Palacielo 6, Garcia 6, Francisco 6, Alfanta 6, Solomon 0, Reyes 0, Laconsay 0, Cartel 0.
Quarterscores: 24-19, 42-39, 53-53, 69-65.
Originally reported by John Bryan Ulanday for BusinessWorld.
