REIGNING champion Ateneo achieved one of its targets against University of the East yesterday.
The Blue Eagles turned back the Red Warriors 80-74 for their seventh win and assured themselves of at least a playoff for the last Final Four berth in the 86th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Playmaker Jared Brown fired 21 points on six three-pointers and pulled down two rebounds for Ateneo, while Kai Ballungay added 15 markers, four boards and five dimes.
Later, University of the Philippines made short work of also-ran University of the Santo Tomas 86-61 to strengthen its drive for a top two finish that will be rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis.
Six-foot-10 Ghanaian center Joseph Obasa also had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds as the Eagles scored a big follow up to their 62-58 decision over the Adamson University Soaring Falcons last Sunday and improved to 7-6.
UE failed to bounce back from a 76-86 loss to La Salle four days back and kissed its semifinals chances goodbye after dropping to 4-9.
“I thought we looked a little bit disinterested today. There was no excuse for that. It’s disappointing turning the ball over as much as we did and not being more dominant in rebounding when they’re missing Precious (Momowei) and we had a significant size disadvantage,” Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said. “I thought we fell in love with the three a little too much, but again, I think UE wanted us to shoot the three. So, we shot it pretty well, which is good, but I think we should’ve had a more determined mindset to dominate the paint.
“But really, turning the ball over as much as we did, giving them the fast break points and the points off turnovers that we gave them, it really is a sign that we weren’t locked in like we should be,” he added.
The Eagles will complete the Final Four cast if and when the Falcons fall to the Green Archers in their duel being played at press time last night.
Chicco Briones showed the way for the Fighting Maroons with 14 points and four caroms, while Cyril Gonzales had 10 markers.
The win served as a fitting follow up to UP’s 81-64 rout of Far Eastern University last Saturday and enabled the Maroons to rise to 11-2.
